A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor
Chapter 52. Execution

Chapter 52: Chapter 52. Execution

The villagers of the territory, gathered in the square, buzzed with hushed whispers, their eyes fixed on the gallows. Having lived their entire lives on the fringes of civilization, such a grotesque and terrifying instrument of death was a novelty. Behind it, perched atop the hill, the Bratz estate stood in its usual serene stillness.

"Execution by hanging?"

"Tax evasion is a serious crime, and he even resisted."

"Gods. How did it come to this...?"

"Wait, so he was taking all that money from us in taxes, but not sending it up to the crown? Where did all that money go, then?"

"Probably lined his fat belly, judging by the size of it."

"He’s a fucking bastard! We had to sell our house to pay his damn taxes. My daughter’s been working the fields since she could walk, and now her back’s all hunched over!"

"Hey, keep your voice down. You want to get us all in trouble?"

"What does it matter? He’s not a noble anymore, just a criminal. And if he was going to die anyway, why did he have to drag us all into his mess? Why did he start a fight with the soldiers?"

"Exactly. If I’d known it would end up like this, I wouldn’t have sent my kids to work at the estate..."

"If only the Count hadn’t done what he did, we’d all be better off. We lost money, our homes got destroyed in the fighting..."

To them, hanging was a truly dishonorable death. For a nobleman, especially a lord who had stood against the barbarians on the frontier, a death by the sword was far more fitting.

To dangle and thrash in front of his own people, no less. Hanging was a punishment that killed a man’s dignity along with his life.

"But why are the Cheon-Ryeo tribesmen building the gallows?"

"Who else is going to move those massive logs?"

Ironically, it was not the Bariel people, but the neighboring barbarians who were preparing Derga’s execution platform. Of course, they had never built a gallows before, so they were following the instructions of the investigation team. However, the atmosphere didn’t quite feel like that of people being commanded.

"Ah, for fuck’s sake, just tell me once. Don’t make me come back twice."

"M-my apologies. Once the pillars are set, tie them tightly with rope to secure them, that should do it."

From the high platform facing the execution structure, Kakantir observed the villagers in the square and the gallows slowly taking shape, a strange feeling washing over him.

Just a few months ago, Derga had been a man with whom he had maintained a delicate balance between alliance and enmity. And now, that man was about to have his neck snapped in front of his own people, while Kakantir watched from his elevated position.

’Life is truly unpredictable.’

Meanwhile, in the estate, Erica was racking her brain, drafting the public proclamation. It was a crucial task, explaining Derga’s crimes in a way that even commoners could understand, while also proclaiming the majesty of the Imperial Palace and her own accomplishments.

Thump.

Below, Ian reached the underground prison. Derga, confined to the cell at the very end, had a piece of gravel in his mouth and his vision obscured by a cloth. His swollen limbs were suspended by shackles. He looked like he could die at any moment.

"Open the door."

Click.

At Ian’s command, the Cheon-Ryeo opened the door without question. Derga perked up his ears as if he had heard Ian’s voice. The stench of waste and blood emanated from him.

"Count Derga. It’s Ian."

"Ugh..."

They had dropped all pretense of familial titles. As Derga twitched in response, the sound of the shackles echoed eerily.

Creak.

"The date of your execution has been set."

"...!"

"You managed to send a letter to the Imperial Palace in that short time. Did you snitch to Prince Marive?"

Derga tried to look up at Ian, but with his eyes covered, his expression was unreadable. However, Ian could sense the intense turmoil in his gaze beneath the cloth.

"I should thank you. Because of that, Erica won’t be receiving her lord’s appointment. It’s given me a reason to leave Bratz sooner, and it’s pushed forward your execution."

Derga tried to reach out with his fist, but it fell far short.

He was filled with regret. When he had first brought him from the brothel, he should have crippled him, as Mary had suggested, to prevent him from doing anything foolish. What was the point of caring about outward appearances?

"...Mmph!"

"Mary and Chell are dead, too."

"..."

"Of those who bear the name Bratz, you are the last survivor. Congratulations. You’ve achieved a glory that few can claim."

Derga’s face turned red. It was evident that the blood was rushing to his head. Ian grabbed his hair and left him with one final message.

"Don’t feel too wronged. This is all your own doing, isn’t it?"

The child he had conceived by raping a woman from a brothel. Separating him from his birth mother to sell him as a sacrifice, and the constant abuse. His excessive greed that led him to secretly plot against the Cheon-Ryeo tribe. The excessive taxes that alienated both the central government and his own people.

Everything, from beginning to end, was his own fault.

"Lord Ian. Kakantir is looking for you."

"I’m on my way."

Ian left the underground prison, leaving Derga to his silent screams.

Outside, spears far taller than any grown man were lined up in a row.

"Hey, hey. Lord Ian. Take a look at these."

"What is it?"

"Do you think the length of the spears is adequate?"

Ian surveyed the spears that would pierce Derga’s heart. He then glanced towards the window where Commander Erica was.

"The execution is the highlight of the event. It would be best to discuss it with Commander Erica and have it mentioned in the public proclamation."

"Hmm. Yes, that’s a good idea."

It was a casual glance, but Commander Erica, with a haggard face, was looking down at them. When their eyes met, she nervously closed the curtains.

Thwack!

’Fucking hell.’

Erica cursed under her breath, clutching her head. There had not been a single letter of explanation from Molin. He must have known about the council’s decision, so a messenger should have arrived around the same time.

"Damn you, old man!"

Meeting Molin directly would likely resolve the issue, but once Derga’s execution was over, she would have to leave the Bratz territory. Ian and the Cheon-Ryeo tribe wouldn’t tolerate her presence for a moment longer. Even if she had left with the letter, she would only be halfway there by now...

’This won’t do. I need to come up with a plan of my own.’

Erica pondered for a moment, then pulled out a new sheet of paper and began to write a letter. She demanded an explanation from Molin and also wrote to the First Prince, Marive.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say. To avoid becoming a sitting duck, it wouldn’t hurt to open a channel to that side.

Slice.

Erica cut her thumb instead of using a seal and pressed her blood onto the paper. A magical potion could be used to verify her identity.

"Lady Erica. I have brought the documents you requested."

"That Ian bastard really did a thorough job, didn’t he?"

"It’s meticulous enough to be used immediately."

"What a prick. Tsk! Just leave it there."

The investigator handed Erica the crucial documents that detailed Derga’s tax evasion, and the contents were meticulously written into the public proclamation.

On the day Derga died, the meaning of his death would be made clear to the villagers.

The day finally arrived. It was the very next day after the gallows were completed. Everyone from the estate gathered outside the entrance to the underground prison.

"Bring out Derga."

"Yes, Lord Ian."

At Ian’s command, two Cheon-Ryeo warriors went down and dragged Derga out.

"Derga Bratz. The time has come for your execution."

At Erica’s words, Derga’s body trembled. Apart from his limbs being unbound, his eyes and mouth were still covered. Erica signaled to her subordinates and they led him to the square.

"Let’s move quickly."

"Huh? He’s dawdling, isn’t he?"

He was to walk barefoot on the soil of Bratz as an act of atonement. The sound of clashing chains echoed with each sluggish step. Slowly, like a beast being led to slaughter, he walked with his head bowed low.

"Derga Bratz. Move."

Crack!

"...Mmph!"

The investigator had no choice but to use his whip, and Derga groaned as he took each step. He was practically being pushed forward.

"It’s Count Bratz..."

"Gods, look at him."

"Stripped of his finery, he looks worse than any of us!"

"Die! Die! You sucked our blood, and in the end, your own family died because of you!"

"Is that really him? Is that really Lord Derga?"

On the way to the square, cries of astonishment could be heard from all sides. The sight of their lord in such a wretched state was truly shocking. Similar words were repeated until they reached the square.

Is that really Derga? That was the gist of it.

"Get up there."

"Ugh..."

Whoosh! Thud!

"Derga! Was this truly your best?"

"You bastard! You should have done better!"

"Die painfully! Please!"

The moment of reckoning for his past deeds had arrived. As Derga stumbled up the stairs, stones were thrown at him.

Someone cried out in anger, saying his wife had been harassed by Derga. Another lamented that he had become a cripple after being beaten for not being able to pay his taxes. The names of Mary and Chell were also heard in passing.

"Did they catch Mary and Chell?"

"I don’t know."

"But if they’re alive, it’s not really the end of the line, is it?"

"There’s a rumor that the remaining investigators will join the pursuit after the execution."

"Really? Then the outsiders will finally be gone."

"The Cheon-Ryeo tribe will remain, but they won’t be able to survive the winter."

"Ah! Finally, things are going back to normal."

Boooo-

An investigator blew a water buffalo horn. The noisy crowd gradually lowered their voices. Soon, Commander Erica stood beside Derga and raised the public proclamation.

"I am Commander Berti Erica of the Imperial Investigation Team. In the name of His Imperial Majesty, I will now announce the crimes of the sinner, Count Derga Bratz."

And she read out, in detail, the charges against Derga and the evidence they had gathered.

In truth, the commoners didn’t understand most of it, but the longer the list grew, the deeper their anger towards Derga became. And they understood that it was the price of sucking their blood and sweat.

"In particular, the production of the Monne mine reached 60,000 tons, but only half of it was reported to the central government, resulting in a profit of 8,000 gold coins. This is only a fraction of the assets that have been omitted over the past few years..."

"What? 8,000 gold coins?"

"Did I hear that right?"

Ian, listening from below, could feel the rising heat of the crowd. The figures of harvest yields and profit shares were meaningless. To the commoners, simply stating the amount in gold coins was far more effective.

"You bastard! How could you do that?"

"Kill him! Kill him now!"

Stones and trash were thrown again from below. Commander Erica ignored the accumulating debris at her feet and read the final sentence.

"Therefore, in the Bariel Empire, those who bear the name of Bratz shall face eternal death. By the Emperor’s decree, the Bratz family is hereby extinguished."

Thwack!

At that moment, a stone struck Derga’s temple with a loud crack. Erica signaled to her subordinates to proceed with the execution.

"Remove the blindfold."