Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 936

Swoosh.

Ian noticed Berik’s side wound was healing.

It was strange. He was using healing magic, but the speed was beyond expectations. Just as Ian was about to examine him more closely, wondering about it.

“Ian!”

Hans called to him from afar. He was pretending to be swept away by the noisy crowd, running and pointing at a man. A mole next to his nose, sharp eyes, and jagged teeth…

‘I can’t see them clearly.’

But he’s holding a cigarette. If he just follows, he’ll be able to confirm it right away.

Ian got up and looked down at the unconscious Berik. Judging from his conversation with his colleague, he seemed to live nearby and make a living here.

‘His name was Berik, right?’

He can find him again anytime he wants. Right now, he should focus on chasing the Black Order member, and dealing with bringing this guy to the Imperial Palace can wait.

Ian took out the gold coin that Berik was tightly holding and replaced it with one of his buttons.

‘His personality isn’t ordinary.’

Even while unconscious, he’s holding onto the coin tightly.

Ian was about to turn around, but then he approached Berik again and put the scattered items into his pocket.

If he left them on the floor like this, others would take them before he woke up. He earned that money while getting cut by a sword; it would be a waste to lose it. Well, this will also be a moment to be remembered when he enters the Imperial Palace.

“Ian!”

At that moment, Hans called to Ian again, stamping his feet. He was urging him to chase after the suspect before he lost him. Soon, he pushed through the crowd and chased after the suspect, and Ian also went down from the arena and rushed into the crowd.

Thud!

“Ouch, watch out!”

“Damn it.”

Those who bumped into him cursed, but Ian didn’t care and kept running. The Black Order member’s appearance was definitely distinctive. He got fooled once before, but statistically, it probably won’t happen again this time.

Tap!

They left the gambling area and entered a narrow, long corridor. It was a place filled with unpleasant and nauseating smells, including the smell of cigarettes. He didn’t know if it was a passage to the outside or a back room for the staff.

As the number of people decreased, the suspect noticed Hans’ footsteps following him.

“Huh?”

He turned his head and looked at Hans. He was holding a cigarette, but it was too dark to see clearly. Hans, who barely stopped walking, flinched.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, Hans stared intently at the area around his mouth. The light of the cigarette was faintly visible, but it was hard to see.

“What are you asking about?”

Why was he being chased? The man asked fiercely, rummaging through his pocket. Then, a small dagger came out of his hand.

Seriously, did he pull out a knife just because someone followed him? He’s not a normal person. Is he a wanted criminal?

“Um, um, just calm down for a moment, there’s something I want to check.”

The man didn’t answer and skillfully twirled the knife, taking a step closer to Hans.

“Check? I should do that first.”

The tip of the cigarette glowed particularly brightly. He was taking a deep breath, inhaling the smoke forcefully. He then spat the cigarette on the floor-

Whoosh, he blew smoke into Hans’ face and charged.

Tap!

“Ugh!”

The smell of the cigarette that covered his face was unbelievably toxic and disgusting. It was the moment when Hans was flustered and took a step back.

Swoosh!

The man felt something was wrong. The tip of his knife stopped in mid-air, as if it was stuck in a crack in the wall.

The smoke was slowly clearing. A boy wearing a robe was blocking the tip of his sword with his fingertips.

“……!”

How did this happen? How could he stop a sword with his fingers? As the man opened his mouth slightly in surprise, Ian muttered irritably.

“There are so many guys here who swing their swords at the drop of a hat.”

“Who, who are you?”

At that moment, golden eyes flashed in the darkness. As Ian slowly raised his head, golden eyes like a beast were revealed.

The man’s nerves tingled. He couldn’t move his whole body. Even if he twisted and struggled, he couldn’t move as if he was in a dream.

“Hans, are you okay?”

“Huh? Yeah, yeah. Other than feeling a bit nauseous.”

“A mole next to his nose, sharp eyes……”

Ian’s gaze slowly moved towards his lips. He slightly lifted his upper lip with his fingertip.

“He’s missing a front tooth?”

Found him.

As Ian smiled faintly, the man felt an unknown sense of fear. Soon, Ian clenched his fist and tilted his head. Hans, with good sense, checked behind him to see if anyone was coming.

“You, you’re a member of the Black Order, aren’t you?”

“……!”

The man’s eyes widened. There were still forces chasing the Black Order? Where? Where did they come from? Judging by the fact that he was a mage, it must be-

‘The Imperial Palace?’

It’s highly likely to be the Imperial Palace!

As the man’s mind became confused, his eyes also shook erratically. Ian wrapped magic power around his fist and muttered.

“Instead of thinking-”

Zhiing! Zhiing!

“You should answer.”

His mouth was clearly not tied up?

The man stammered, his lips trembling.

“No, no, no……!”

No, he wasn’t a member of the Black Order.

“Really?”

Ian raised an eyebrow and thrust his fist at his face.

Whoosh!

The fist stopped right in front of his nose. As the man trembled and slightly opened one eye, Ian smiled faintly and spread his fist wide open.

“Don’t worry. You won’t die.”

At least not here.

The man’s eyes reflected magic power. Sharp beams of light were leaking through the gaps in his palm.

Crackling! Crack!

It was instantaneous. His whole body stiffened as if struck by lightning, then trembled, and he collapsed.

Ian checked the unconscious man’s face one last time, then turned to Hans.

“You were lucky. You don’t have to come back again.”

“Well, if he’s the guy you’re looking for.”

“I think it’s him. I have a feeling.”

“Haa, but why did you go up to the arena earlier? You didn’t bring the money, did you?”

Hans, who had relaxed, leaned against the wall and slumped down, joking. Of course not. Why would Ian-

“I did.”

Ta-da. Ian showed a gold coin and smiled.

“Huh?”

“Okay, shall we move him? Hans. Can you go upstairs and call some people?”

“Uh, uh.”

Ian spoke so casually that Hans was rather taken aback. Even if he was a professional fighter, that was money he had earned with difficulty through all that chaos. But he stole it? Isn’t that too much?

…No, Ian must have had another reason for doing that. No, still, stealing the fight money is a bit……

Tap.

Hans, with an expression of bewilderment, hurried away. There were plenty of people in the gambling den who would help if you paid them. Besides, it wasn’t a strange atmosphere to openly drag someone out.

Meanwhile, Ian squatted on the floor, waiting for Hans to come.

Swoosh.

Then, he slightly tilted the gold coin he had taken from Berik. The dimly lit corridor. The only light was the faint flickering of candles, but the gold coin still sparkled.

In the middle of that gold coin, a dark red stain.

“……”

It was Berik’s blood.

* * *

Berik’s nose twitched. The sunlight felt on his skin. And the smell of his favorite braised meat. He felt good, as if he had woken up from a good sleep……

“Umnya……”

Berik buried his face in the pillow and whined in his sleep, then suddenly came to his senses and jumped up.

“Aaaah!”

With a bizarre scream.

His startled sister ran over with a ladle in her hand, and his younger siblings peeked out from the door.

“Hyung, you’re awake?”

“What, what is it?”

“Sleepyhead.”

“Berik, if you’re going to wake up, please wake up quietly. You scared me.”

Berik stood on the bed, staring blankly at his family’s complaints.

Was it a dream? How did he get here from the arena? Salon, that bastard wouldn’t have moved him here so quietly. Berik reflexively touched his side.

“Huh?!”

There was no wound. Deck, that bastard, clearly cut him with a knife as his last performance? There was only a trace of healing; the wound had disappeared.

“Berik hyung, what are you doing?”

“The idiot leader is awake-!”

As his younger siblings laughed and ran over, Berik lay back down on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Nuna.”

“Yeah?”

The kitchen was visible right outside the door. Berik’s sister, Helna, answered while tasting the braised meat she had cooked in a large pot.

“How long have I been asleep?”

Was he lying down for about fifteen days? Helna burst out laughing in disbelief and turned to Berik.

“You slept a bit longer than usual. About ten hours?”

“I came in yesterday? Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Who brought me?”

“I don’t know. It was a coachman I’ve never seen before? I told you not to drink so much, didn’t I?”

The coachman added that Berik was too drunk to stand and even helped him lie down on the bed. When she offered to pay, he said he had already been paid and left.

Berik blinked repeatedly, not understanding the situation.

“He was paid?”

Ah. That’s right. The money!

Berik was startled and looked for the clothes he had been wearing. That bastard coachman, did he steal the money?

“Berik, calm down. It’s here.”

As Helna jingled the pouch, Berik calmed his startled heart and approached his sister, while his younger siblings scattered again to focus on playing.

“Can you not go to the arena anymore?”

Helna asked quietly, but Berik sat at the table and poured out the money from his pouch.

“I only go occasionally.”

“It’s dangerous even if you only go occasionally.”

“It’s okay. If I want to eat meat and live, there’s nothing else like it.”

“Berik.”

Helna sighed and turned around. But she paused when she faced Berik, who had a very bewildered expression.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“This is a goddamn motherfucking piece of shit!”

Berik roared, clutching his pouch tightly. His younger siblings laughed again, saying it had started again, and played tag on the sofa. Helna put down the ladle and approached him.

“What’s the matter?”

“…Haa.”

One gold coin was missing. Instead, there was a strange golden button.

Berik squeezed his head and let out an annoyed groan. Who was it? The coachman? Or the arena? Wait, he thought he saw someone at the end in the arena.

“Oh my.”

Helna picked up the button and examined it closely, then admired it quietly. She had recognized the pattern engraved on the button.

“Berik, did you meet a mage?”

“Huh?”

“This is the Magic Department’s emblem.”

“This is a mage’s thing?”

“They say it’s very expensive. One is worth well over a gold coin. Surely, you didn’t steal it, did you?”

“Nuna.”

“Sorry. I was just saying it.”

Our Berik, even if it’s hard to earn money, he wouldn’t take other people’s things without permission. Helna stroked Berik’s head and focused on cooking again.

Berik kept looking at the button and suddenly remembered something, jumping up.

“That’s right.”

The guy he saw at the end. He was wearing a robe, but he clearly remembered him. He had platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, and he looked like a gigolo.

‘Was he a mage?’

Then it seems like he understands something. His wound that disappeared overnight, and this button.

‘Does this mean he wants me to go to the Magic Department?’

Berik grabbed his jacket and told Helna.

“Use this for this month’s living expenses and register the kids for school. Ah, I’ll take the button. Damn it. This was originally money.”

“Huh? Are you going out now?”

Your favorite braised meat is ready? As Helna tapped the pot with the ladle, her younger siblings rushed over and sat at the table.

Berik, who was about to put on his clothes, also paused and swallowed hard.

“…Then, should I just eat a bowl quickly and go?”