Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Formatting

—Excuse me but are you busy at the moment?

“……??”

Beric kept blinking blankly. At the mutt sitting obediently yet panting with a wide grin looking up at him. Did this bastard just talk?

“Pfft, preposterous. I’ve gone mental. So damn bored my brain’s gone whack. Dammit. It popped, I swear.”

Beric snickered patting his head. But on hearing the voice again, he snapped to and whipped around.

—I was addressing you sir. Spare me a moment if it suits you. Ahem… uniquely featured gentleman.

The dog still peered up at Beric seated calmly.

‘This punk’s calling me ugly?’

Beric rolled his eyeballs seeking where the voice emanated from. But surrounded by nothing but snowscapes and ample terrain to conceal oneself, it was difficult.

Ta-tak!

The once amiable pup seemed to detect something off in Beric’s gaze. It carefully backpedaled before breaking out into a mad dash. Beric reflexively gave chase.

Woof woof!

“Hey I heard you bark! What’re you?!”

Woof!

Having trouble backing a carriage, Ian frowned hearing the ruckus, unsure what accidents he was getting into now. The flaming redhead frantically sprinting around stood out conspicuously.

“Beric!”

“Ian! Help me catch this mutt!”

“Why is that?!”

“The punk can talk! But he’s got a smartass mouth!”

Wildly scampering all over, he looked more a mess than the dog. Ian signaled Romandro and his men to ignore it, arching his brows.

“I’ve no idea why he acts like that.”

“Leave him be. How much hot blood could he have?”

Romandro chuckled defending Ian. By the time Beric finished playing tag with the dog, his men had finished preparations to depart after turning all the carriages around.

“Lord Ian, since we’ve stopped anyway, may we check the wheels thoroughly? The snowy path seems more slippery than expected.”

“Letting the horses rest some more would be good too.”

Ian readily consented checking his watch. Even considering earlier sunsets in winter, they had ample leeway. They would reach Carrena by evening, even heading back a bit.

“Right. No need to go too far.”

“By the way, do you really think that’s the bandits’ hideout? It’s too close to Carenna, isn’t it? It’s so blatantly visible, I doubt the local guards would just ignore it.”

The coachman, lighting a cigarette, glanced toward the village and asked. His point was valid. However, prioritizing the avoidance of the worst-case scenario, Ian decided not to change their course.

“That’s something we’ll figure out in Carenna.”

“Caught you! Muttface!”

Squeak

.

Just then Beric shouted, lugging a white furball in one hand.

“Ian! Look at this, this guy can talk!”

The rest of the group, resting nearby, paid no attention, and Ian was no different. That is, until Beric shoved the dog right in front of his face.

It fearfully met Ian’s gaze.

“Beric. Make sense, would you?”

“Why? Magic and crap makes sense but a talking dog doesn’t seem likely? It totally asked if I got time!”

Hmm. He seems quite adamant about it. Maybe he heard something wrong, or perhaps it’s actually true…

“Talk. Go on.”

Squeak

.

Ian murmured earnestly, holding the dog’s eyes. Watching beside him, Romandro then burst out laughing, unable to restrain himself. Given Beric and now Ian too, what a sight it must have been.

“Sorry,

ahem

. Yo, hey. Over there…Mmm, give me a smoke too.”

Romandro faked a cough fleeing to his men when Ian looked his way. The dog merely wagged his tail panting.

“Stop wasting time and let it go already.”

“Maybe it’s a comedian? I’ll just gobble him up in case.”

As Beric muttered puzzled, the dog wore a shocked expression. The moment Ian noticed, it promptly bit Beric’s hand.

Yip!

“Ow!”

The dog bolted at full speed up the hillside. As Beric crouched writhing in pain, Ian calmly watched the creature’s rear vanish from sight.

—How impolite you brutes are! You misunderstand whom you’re facing! You felt like godly presences yet behold! Tcht tcht! *

ptui

*

“See that! It talked!”

Ian also gaped slightly surprised. How adorable the tiny creature seemed shouting imperiously. Though Romandro and his men snuck peeks at the commotion, by then the dog’s form had vanished.

“What happened just now? A dog seriously talked?”

“Ahaha! Really Sir Romandro, your jokes go too far.”

“Now now, shall we set off?”

“Mmmnngh, wanna hurry and rest well.”

As all busily prepared to depart, Ian and Beric dumbfoundedly squinted, scrutinizing each other before shaking their heads.

“How bizarre…”

“If you don’t know then how should I? Damn it, it bit my hand properly.”

“My my. How perplexing.”

A foreign species? Or a divine beast?

But it’s too shabby for the latter.

If neither, then maybe a monster, yet encountering such a deep inland of Bariel in this age was unlikely.

“I can’t figure it out.”

The moment Ian moved to board the carriage, he felt a presence behind them again gazing back up the hill. Beric wiped his hands following Ian’s sight.

“What is it?”

“Feels like someone’s there… You don’t sense it?”

“That damn mutt still not gone?!”

“Alright, let’s get on quickly. The winds are getting fierce.”

Ian hustled Beric aboard, shoving his back. As their procession traced back their entrada route, Ian remained vigilant. Noticing, a worried Romandro asked.

“What’s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s not that. Just tense, knowing this area is prone to bandit attacks.”

Neigh—!

Clip-clop-clip-clop!

As the long line of carriages gradually disappeared, shadowy figures emerged from the forest, following in the carriages’ wake.

*

Just as the coachman had predicted, they arrived in Carenna at dusk. A quiet little town with nothing much to see. The locals, wrapping up their day, paused to watch Ian’s procession of carriages.

“If this were Bratz, there’d be an uproar about who’s invaded now. It’s quiet here.”

“We’re close to the inland, so we don’t worry about foreign invasions. And bandits wouldn’t be dragging carriages into town.”

Romandro glanced at Beric’s hand and clicked his tongue.

“Anyway, are you alright?”

“My hand? It’s nothing.”

“So why did you grab some passing stray like that?”

“It wasn’t some stray! I’m telling you it talked!”

Beric was right. However much one thought about it, preposterous didn’t cut it. Not only his first time witnessing a beast speak human tongue, but its soft appearance contrasted shockingly with the voice and manner.

“Could it have been some sorcery?”

“Maybe…but for a mere small town to have a sorcerer…”

No. It was possible.

If magic wielders like Ian existed on volatile national frontiers, then all the more sorcerers.

Squeak—!

“We’ve arrived Lord Ian.”

“Good work everyone. Let’s unpack and rest well tonight.”

“Ah, what a relief.”

“Huh! Are you planning to stay at the inn tonight?”

“Are you the innkeeper? We’ve got quite a lot of carriages and luggage.”

“Please come in! Just a moment!”

A woman sweeping the inn entrance hurried inside fetching workers.

“The horses are a bit sensitive, so it would be best if they aren’t mixed.”

“We currently have no guests, so we should be able to accommodate you. Please come this way.”

While his men stabled the horses and carriages, Ian entered the inn signing the ledger. The paper looked unused for days prior.

“Business must’ve been quite slow this winter?”

“Yes, indeed. Though truthfully even nice weather doesn’t bring that many guests… There’s nothing much to see or eat here. We only get occasional passersby like yourselves, but ever since the rumors of bandits, even that’s stopped. Are you staying just for one night?”

“That’s right.”

The innkeeper gave a forced smile as he checked the register. With twenty horses, ten carriages, nearly a dozen people, and plenty of luggage to store…

“The total, including meals and bathwater, comes to one gold coin.”

Though feeling somewhat overpriced, there was nowhere else that could accommodate their entire party simultaneously. Unless they scattered—which would be more trouble than it was worth paying the gold.

Besides having agreed to lodge, they may as well receive the finest care for various benefits.

Clank.

Ian obligingly took out two gold coins extending them. Delighted, the innkeeper bowed deeply, thanking him.

“Oh splendid! We shall serve you our utmost!”

“It’s cold, so make sure there’s plenty of firewood.”

“Of course! Shall I heat the bathwater now?”

“That would be great.”

“I’m starving! Food! Food!”

“Yes, yes. Just wait a moment, and we’ll have it ready. This way, please. Oh, just to let you know, we only have two rooms with attached bathrooms. How would you like to arrange that?”

At the innkeeper’s words climbing the stairs, Ian looked to Romandro nodding.

“I’ll share with Beric. Please rest comfortably, sir Romandro.”

“Are you sure? Thank you.”

“Don’t I get a say? I want a room to myself.”

“Really? Well, there’s always the stable. It’s empty.”

“……”

“Here we are! Mind your step on the stairs!”

Creak.

The room was old but neatly kept. The smell of dry wood and cheap soap filled the air, and the lighting was dim, with only half of the bulbs working. Yet it was cozy, warm, and most importantly, the existence of beds was a blessing. They had all been sleeping on the cold, snowy ground for the past few days.

“Yay!”

Beric also catapulted into bed rolling all over. Once they hastily unpacked, the innkeeper swiftly brought light snacks.

“If it’s alright with you, please have these to tide over your hunger before the meal.”

“Thank you.”

“No, we are the ones who are thankful. We were worried we might have to sit twiddling our thumbs this month.”

Ian took the tray and inquired.

“Has Hayman shut down by chance?”

“The bank you mean?”

“Yes. I heard they’ve stopped operating at Carrena, Longuin, and Jalicove but I’m not sure of the current state.”

“They closed altogether then reopened Longuin for abbreviated hours it seems. Folks here and Jalicove also have to go there to conduct business. It’s nearby and bandits still haven’t been suppressed yet.”

“Still?”

What exactly are the guards doing? Even though it’s a small town, the affected areas span three places. It would seem urgent enough to eradicate the source of the problem immediately.

“We saw an unmarked village on the way here. We thought it was the bandits’ base.”

The innkeeper stiffened at Ian’s words. As if the first time recalling it in forever.

“Ah, you must mean Danil.”

“Danil?”

“Yes. It wouldn’t be marked on recent maps. A few years ago, all the villagers died, and the place was abandoned. Demolishing it is a task in itself, so it’s been left as is.”

Since it was a map for travelers, there was no reason to mark an abandoned village. Ian frowned, deep in thought.

“Everyone died? What happened?”

“I don’t know the exact cause, but they were all found lying down as if they had fallen asleep and died. It was a huge mess. The people from our village had to go there and drag the bodies out. Investigators from the royal palace came, and, um, what did they say? Was it mass food poisoning?”

Beric, who had been lying down, sat up abruptly at the innkeeper’s words.

“…Does that make sense?”

“If the royal palace says so, it must be true. The Magic Department would have conducted a thorough investigation.”