Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 943

‘Ah, buh-‘

Ian, Berik, and Barsabe huddled together, their eyes fixed on Roel. They were completely captivated by the small, delicate baby.

Philia chuckled, setting down her teacup.

‘Are you all that amazed?’

‘…She’s so beautiful.’

‘It’s a relief the baby takes after her mother, not her father.’

‘Nersarn, this brat Berik made an impudent remark. Shouldn’t we teach him a lesson?’

Barsabe tattled, and Nersarn shrugged. He’d heard that line countless times, so it didn’t faze him. Even in Cheonryeo, everyone celebrated that the baby resembled Philia.

‘Hey, old man, you know how to fight?’

Berik sized up Nersarn, assessing his combat prowess. A massive frame, bulging muscles, broad shoulders, and scars all over, a testament to a hard life.

Barsabe pinched Berik’s cheek, warning him.

‘Ugh, Ian. This guy’s going to be trouble even in the Imperial Palace.’

‘I know, right?’

‘No, why! I was just curious!’

Siaosi, unable to contain his curiosity about Berik, cautiously interjected.

‘Is he also taking the selection exam?’

‘Ah, Berik is a magic swordsman. He’s training to join the Imperial Guard.’

‘Ah.’

That made sense. He seemed like a commoner, yet he lived in the Zach estate and was close to Ian, a genius mage, and Barsabe, the count’s daughter. As a magic swordsman, a key figure assisting the Emperor, it was natural to keep him close. Just like they had taken him into the mansion.

‘So, old man, can you fight?’

‘Why are you so curious?’

Nersarn frowned slightly, trying to hide his annoyance with Philia and Roel present.

‘If you can fight, I was going to ask you to spar. We’re staying here for a while anyway, right? Barsabe is no fun since she’s under me now.’

‘You little brat! Don’t get the wrong idea, everyone! I’ve won a hundred times, and he’s only won once!’

‘A win is a win.’

‘Come on out. Let’s go again.’

‘Hmph. I don’t fight with weaklings.’

Berik flicked his ear, teasing her, and Barsabe buried her face in a cushion, yelling.

Fortunately, Roel just blinked, waving her hands as if the commotion was amusing. Ian held her hand, addressing Nersarn. Though the tone was casual, it was a serious request.

‘Nersarn, if you have time, I’d like your help. Barsabe has been preparing for a long time, but Berik hasn’t been training for long. His goal is to pass this exam, so I’d like you to impart the strength of Cheonryeo.’

‘Yes, well. I have plenty of time.’

They had come to attend the wedding in Romandro. Until then, they planned to sightsee in the capital, so they could certainly participate in training.

And in fact, he had been planning to suggest it first. After sitting still for over a month, his body was stiff, being a warrior of Cheonryeo.

‘Good. Berik, treat him as your master and be respectful.’

Philia was like a mother to him. So, her man was like a father to Ian. Berik accepted Ian’s warning and nodded slightly.

‘Okay.’

Strangely, he couldn’t argue when Ian said that, unlike with others. Was it because he had been beaten up once before?

‘Nersarn, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to ask for your guidance as well.’

‘Siaosi, please don’t say that. I was planning to help you with anything to pass the exam.’

Siaosi bowed his head slightly to Nersarn, and Nersarn waved his hand. The Enrow family was a friend of Cheonryeo and an important ally.

Ian picked up the whimpering Roel and sat opposite Siaosi. It was time to bring up ‘that’ topic.

‘By the way, what is the Enrow territory like? I’m not very knowledgeable about the border regions.’

‘It’s a peaceful place. The people are kind, and if you walk a little through the vast fields, you can see the golden desert. It’s also a place where you see many exotic people coming from Hawan.’

It was a brief introduction, but it was full of affection for Enrow. Ian smiled faintly and asked again.

‘I heard that the family founder’s name was Siaosi Enrow.’

‘Yes, he was the sword of the Empire.’

‘Ian, I saw a portrait, and it looked just like Siaosi.’

‘Really?’

Ian felt a sense of bewilderment at Philia’s explanation. Siaosi Enrow. He looked alike and had inherited the same name?

Siaosi noticed this and added on his own.

‘My older brother will inherit the family. It’s already decided. It’s not something that can be changed by a name.’

He had accurately seen through the question of why the second son had received the ancestor’s precious name.

‘And I also acknowledge my brother’s succession. I’m not interested in management, so I think it’s for the best.’

‘I see. Then you might not know.’

‘Know what?’

‘A long time ago, the Enrow family deposited the proceeds from a territory sale at the Hyman Bank.’

‘We did?’

‘Yes. A total of 1,000 gold coins.’

‘……!’

Berik’s mouth dropped open at the mention of 1,000 gold coins. It was an amount he had never even imagined! With that money, how many plates of meat could he buy…

‘The Hadel family couldn’t find any records about the territory sale, so I was wondering if Enrow might know something.’

‘Ah, I don’t know the details, but 1,000 gold coins would be more than just a small piece of land.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Do you have an estimate of when it was?’

‘It’s estimated to be about 100 years ago, during the reign of Emperor Jin Verosian.’

‘Ah?’

Siaosi tilted his head in confusion.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘The Enrow family was granted nobility by the late Emperor Jin Verosian. As far as I know, my ancestor was a commoner who rose to become a retainer, married a daughter of the Davion family, and after retiring, managed the current Enrow territory.’

Ian paused. The timing of the payment didn’t match the beginning of the family?

Then there was only one possibility. The current Enrow territory was the subject of that sale.

‘Did the Hadel family have territory in the border region too?’

That was strange. If so, there should be records.

As Ian frowned, deep in thought-

‘Deh-‘

Roel poked Ian’s forehead with her finger. Surprised by the sudden action of the baby, Ian smiled and gently rocked her.

‘Do you know who owned the Enrow territory before?’

‘Ah, that is…’

Siaosi trailed off, looking slightly troubled. It was something he couldn’t easily tell others as a member of the Enrow family.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘…Records of the previous lord are not allowed in Bariel.’

What did that mean? Ian blinked, his thoughts momentarily halted, then he understood.

‘Are they a traitor?’

‘I don’t know the details. But all the records have been lost, and the history of the Enrow family is only passed down to the head of the family. All I know is one thing-‘

Siaosi seemed hesitant to tell, but the atmosphere had already shifted. Everyone in the room was curious, not just Ian. Besides, he was indebted to Ian Hadel for the time being, wasn’t he? Since he, who had no succession rights, knew the information, he decided it was okay to tell.

‘The previous lord used the name Hielo.’

‘Hielo…’

Where had he heard that? Ian repeated the name several times, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. But the more he did, the more questions arose. No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t explain this familiarity.

‘The fact that Hielo’s records were erased means they were a traitor family.’

On the other hand, the Hadel family was a branch of the imperial family. There was no way they could have any connection with a traitor family. If they had, they would have been annihilated, and Ian wouldn’t have been born.

‘Then what is this familiarity…’

‘Ah, buh-‘

Then, Roel grabbed Ian’s finger and shook it vigorously. The child seemed to want to say something, making noises and drawing Ian’s attention.

‘What is it?’

Ian smiled and tilted his head, and Roel’s warm hands touched Ian’s face.

Siaosi watched them and cautiously suggested.

‘If you’re curious about the source of the payment, I’ll write a letter to my father. I’ll also send my regards to let him know I arrived safely.’

‘I would be grateful if you would.’

‘Yes. But please know this. There are no records left in the current Enrow.’

It was the moment Ian nodded. There was a sound of footsteps outside.

Knock knock.

‘Excuse me. Count Zach has returned.’

‘Ah, he’s back early. Shall we all greet him?’

‘Of course.’

The conversation stopped at the news that the host, Count Zach, had returned, and everyone got up and turned their gaze towards the door.

Only one person, Roel, who was in Ian’s arms, kept saying something and shaking Ian’s finger.

‘Ah, boo-boo, ba-‘

* * *

Meanwhile, in a forest in the north. A group of armed hunters walked through the undergrowth.

It was the Red Forest, where monsters, now almost extinct, still occasionally appeared. They were armed with weapons from the Dera tribe and constantly smoked cigarettes.

‘Damn it, we haven’t seen anything for days.’

‘Hey. But are monster corpses really worth money?’

‘Yeah, there are people looking for them. There are all sorts of people. I sold a monster core and shell to a sorcerer last time, and he gave me two gold coins.’

‘Wow, that’s a jackpot.’

‘These days, monsters can be taken down by three or four strong men, so if you do well, you can make a lot of money…’

Swish.

It was then. A strange sound came from somewhere. The hunters stopped at the same time and looked around. Was it a monster? Or an animal? Whatever it was, they would catch it and take it!

‘Th-there!’

A man shouted, pointing to one side. Red eyes shone brightly in the darkness. They soon turned golden and began to flicker like flames.

The hunters calmly grabbed their weapons and lowered their stance.

‘On the count of three, we go at the same time. Got it?’

‘Y-yeah, yeah.’

‘One, two-!’

But, something about the energy was unusual? Was it the bastard they had heard rumors about? Then it tilted its head to the side and laughed with a strange sound.

‘Laugh?’

Monsters had no emotions. That’s why they were evil forces that weren’t even considered animals.

‘Three!’

The moment the hunter shouted three and charged, something sharp shot out of the bushes and pierced their necks at the same time.

Thud!

‘…Kuh, keok!’

It was like a living thorn. While the hunters were dying, spitting out blood, it slowly came out of the bushes and revealed itself.

‘A, a person?’

He rummaged through the corpses’ pockets, took a few coins, and then…

Crack!

He completely severed the hunter’s neck, finishing him off.

Cronie roughly swept back his dirt-covered hair and muttered.

‘Ah. I shouldn’t have killed them.’

He should have asked where he was, but it couldn’t be helped.

Cronie, looking the same as he did 10 years ago, turned his head towards Bariel and smiled faintly. His eyes were shining gold.