A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor
Chapter 41: The Reason for Return

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Reason for Return

Outside the manor gates, the soldiers stood, swords drawn, awaiting orders from within. The tension between the two factions was palpable. On one side, men barely able to stand, hands and feet trembling. On the other, the Cheonryeo, casually chewing on gurut leaves as they waited.

Creeeak.

The gates opened. The soldiers parted, allowing the outsiders entry.

"Only Ian and the Chieftain may enter!"

"Only us?"

"How generous," a Cheonryeo warrior scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"..."

The soldier was from Bariel’s central army, and these were barbarians from the fringes. His attitude was expected, but the warrior was deliberately provoking him.

The other Cheonryeo warriors chuckled, joining in. It was an intimidating display, but this time, Ian didn’t intervene.

"Allow us our guards," Ian said calmly.

"That is not permitted."

"Are you the captain? The commander?"

"...The orders have already come down."

"I suggest you ask again. Your lord’s mind might have changed. Just as ours might."

Ian’s calm words sent a chill down the soldier’s spine. They had said they had no intention of resisting, but this... this could change things.

The central army had already suffered significant losses in the battle against Derga. Further conflict was to be avoided at all costs.

And their opponents were the Cheonryeo, the warlike barbarians that threatened Brats. Who knew what the future held? But right now, they could easily raze this manor to the ground.

Ian turned to Kakhan, suggesting, "Kakhan. Lady Nersaren, Su, and I will go. That should be acceptable."

"Me! Ian, what about me? Berik is here, too!"

"Yes. As you wish, sir."

"Go. Ask again."

"Iaaan! Are you deaf?"

Berik, clinging to him like a sack of grain, wriggled, begging to be taken along. But an exception was an exception.

Under Ian’s pressure, the soldier went back inside and soon returned with satisfying news.

"Enter."

"We’ll be back. Wait here."

"Yes, Kakhan!"

Creeeak.

The main gate slowly closed. The Brats manor, which he had returned to after two months, was vastly different from what he remembered. Gone was the serene and fresh atmosphere, replaced by the heavy scent of defeat.

The annex in the distance was blackened as if it had been burned to the ground. Ian stared at the unidentifiable shapes piled next to it. What were those...?

"Are you Ian Brats?"

A woman emerged from the main building, escorted by her subordinates. Judging by her attire, she was the investigation leader. Her pink hair was tied up, and bandages covered various parts of her body. It seemed there had been a fierce battle inside the manor as well. She smiled, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

"Ah. You haven’t been officially inducted, so I should just call you Ian. I heard about you from Sir Molin. I am the captain, Erica."

"Are you Sir Molin’s subordinate?"

"Subordinate? Well, I suppose you could say that. Come, come inside. It’s not much, but it’s better than the ground, wouldn’t you say?"

Erica led the way as if the manor were her own. Watching her, Ian guessed that she was Molin’s chosen successor to the lordship. Her position as the investigation leader and her handling of matters here made the position of the next lord a fitting reward.

"What happened here?"

Once they reached the drawing-room, Ian feigned ignorance, testing the waters. The inside of the manor reeked of blood that hadn’t yet been cleared away.

"As you can see, there was some... bloodshed, but things are mostly under control now. We’ve confirmed the tax evasion and found the evidence. All that’s left is to cut off Derga’s limbs."

Ian raised an eyebrow. Most executions of traitors were by hanging. Death by the blade was an honor for nobles, so ropes were usually used. The sight of someone dangling in the air, struggling, was also a public humiliation.

Erica cackled as if it were a joke. From the entrance to the drawing-room, she hadn’t even glanced at Kakantir. How arrogant.

"It’s just a figure of speech. He has some knights and a captain under him. Deora, I believe? Quite skilled. He’s been using all sorts of people as his hands and feet, constantly evading us, so cutting off his limbs is the obvious course of action."

Fwoo, Erica blew cigarette smoke in Ian’s face. Then, finally glancing at Kakantir, she asked with a puzzled expression.

"So, what brings you here? I heard you had a grudge against Derga. Are you curious about the execution?"

This place was not safe for Ian. With the Brats family on the verge of extinction, even though he wasn’t officially part of it, everyone knew he carried Derga’s blood.

"Or are you waiting for a letter from Sir Molin?"

The fact that he had cooperated by reporting to Sir Molin was the only reason he was receiving such friendly treatment. It was the generosity of those who had seized victory.

Erica smacked her lips.

"What do you want? I haven’t received any specific instructions."

"I would appreciate hearing about Sir Molin’s well-being, but I have other business."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

Erica seemed to think it was no big deal. As if a half-blood sold off to the Cheonryeo could have any significant business.

"Brats is my hometown. I was so worried when I heard about the incident that I couldn’t sleep. The Cheonryeo, who are allies of Brats, felt the same way. That’s why we came together."

Erica glanced at Kakantir. She tilted her head slightly and smiled, still not understanding the meaning of Ian’s words.

"Aren’t the barbarians on bad terms with Brats?"

At her words, Ian let out a short laugh. It was a clear, mocking laugh. Erica’s face hardened, and she stubbed out her cigarette on the table. The subordinates behind her gripped their sword hilts.

"Brats and the Cheonryeo have long been on friendly terms, exchanging with each other. We are more than brothers."

"Brothers? Hah. That’s a load of horseshit. Everyone in the central administration knows that Brats and the Cheonryeo are at each other’s throats. Aren’t you proof of that? A lowly being sold alive to the Great Desert."

"Your way of speaking is impressive. It’s surprising. Do they recruit from the common folk for investigation leaders these days?"

"What?!"

Erica shrieked at Ian’s calm words. It was a roundabout way of saying her speech was too vulgar. Kakhan also showed his agreement with a laugh.

"Listen here, Captain."

"Listen here, Captain?"

"I am the heart of the Great Desert. Stop spewing your vulgar words. If you’ve confirmed Derga’s tax evasion, hurry up with the execution and leave. We will handle the aftermath in the Brats territory."

"Are you insane? What are you talking about?!"

"Lady Erica! There’s nothing more to hear!"

Clang! Clang!

Erica’s subordinates drew their swords. Kakantir, Nersaren, and Su simply watched, unfazed. In contrast to the উত্তেজিত men, they were calm.

"Where do these bastards with beast blood think they are?!"

Whoosh!

One of the men closest to Kakantir lunged, swinging his sword. Kakantir easily caught his wrist with his bare hand and, with a blank expression, began to apply pressure.

"Uh...?"

Crack.

"Aaaaargh!"

With one hand, he twisted the man’s wrist. Not stopping there, Kakantir grabbed the man’s hair and slammed his head onto the table. The cigarette ashes Erica had discarded were smeared all over the man’s face.

Thump! Thud! Thump!

Once, twice, three times.

With each violent slam, blood splattered, soaking the carpet under the table. Erica, who had stumbled back, let out a shrill scream.

"Are you crazy? I am an envoy of the Imperial Palace! This is an insult to the Imperial Palace!"

"Insult? Watch your words. It is an honor and a mercy that he is still alive after touching my hand."

It wasn’t an empty threat. To reach the position of Chieftain, Kakhan had never suffered a single defeat, and all those he had faced had met their deaths.

Erica looked as if she would burst a blood vessel. She glared at Ian and warned, "...Do you want to be beheaded alongside your father? Everyone knows you carry Derga’s blood! Even if I kill you, no one! No one can blame me!"

"As you said, I carry Derga’s blood, but I am not a member of the Brats family."

"Try saying that in the Imperial Palace! See if that clever trick works there!"

"Well, it is common to fall into slavery in the Imperial Palace, but one must read the situation carefully. Above all, I am the only ’Imperial citizen’ who interacts with the bordering Cheonryeo."

This place was a fortnight’s journey from the Imperial Palace.

Whoever became the next lord, protecting Bariel’s borders from external forces was the lord’s duty. In such a critical situation, who was it that had the Cheonryeo’s support?

Ian raised his head slightly, as if telling her to look closely.

"Also, due to our alliance, my affiliation is not with Bariel’s Brats but with the Cheonryeo of the Great Desert. Ah. You should lower your swords. For your own safety."

These were monsters who could easily defeat dozens of men each. Their size alone was a testament to that. Even with Kakantir’s light movements, Erica’s subordinate had fainted. If they drew their weapons, no one could predict the bloodbath that would follow.

"And above all, Captain Erica, your mission was to investigate and punish Derga’s tax evasion, not to handle the aftermath of the Brats territory. If you’ve finished your job, is it so unpleasant to go back up?"

"I, to catch Derga...!"

"You’ve turned the territory into a wasteland. You’ve gone too far. It was enough to shed Derga’s blood, but the screams of the territory’s people are everywhere."

"You’re the one who’s gone too far! Know your place!"

He was of Derga’s bloodline, a commoner, a lowly being who was a sacrifice to the Great Desert. When the count’s formal trial was held, it was a given that Ian would be sold into slavery. They had to somehow make up for the taxes Derga had embezzled.

"I know my place very well."

At Ian’s words, Kakantir took a letter from his inner pocket. He tossed it onto the blood-soaked table.

"This is the position of our allies, the Cheonryeo. Derga’s situation is an internal matter of the Empire, but we are, after all, allied with Brats. We desire peace for Brats more than anyone."

"Hah! How shameless."

"You should be more polite. If you die here, wouldn’t you be the one who regrets it the most?"

It was a simple but clear warning. Erica bit her lip and gripped her sword again. Then, she realized that the Cheonryeo hadn’t even drawn their weapons yet. They considered themselves more than capable even barehanded.

"According to the alliance treaty, we should be supporting Derga. But Derga is a criminal, and Brats is a part of Bariel. Therefore, we intend to help you..."

Kakantir glanced at Ian.

Everything was going according to their plan.

"We believe that Ian is the most suitable person to connect us. We would like to entrust all authority of Brats to Ian. What do you think?"

"...Did I misunderstand? It sounds like you’re saying he wants to become the head of the house?"

Ian and the Cheonryeo only looked at Erica without answering. She felt speechless, as if her words were stuck in her throat. But as if to say it was too early for that, Ian smiled brightly.