Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Traitor of the Great Desert
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“Hyah!”
Derga kicked his horse’s flank hard and galloped into the forest. It was the woods adjacent to Merelrof territory, the complete opposite direction from the Great Desert border. There was a temporary training ground there that had been set up in the previous generation to stake a claim on the area.
Deo should be there with the private soldiers.
‘No, he has to be!’
The soldiers at the manor had been disbanded under pressure from the investigation team, but Deo’s private soldier unit was still holding out.
“Deoooo!”
Derga dismounted and ran toward the temporary training ground. His shout, born of a heart that felt like it was vomiting blood, echoed back to him.
The surroundings were quiet. Not a sign of life anywhere.
“No way, no way……”
Was there a worst after the worst?
All sorts of horrific scenarios flashed through Derga’s mind. Had the fleeing steward delivered the message to Deo? Even if he had, would Deo have run……
“Count!”
It was then.
A voice called out as the training ground flag fluttered. Derga panted as he rushed inside and soon came face-to-face with the hidden soldiers.
“Deo!”
“Count. Are you all right? What about the Cheonryeo Tribe?”
Originally, the plan had been for the Cheonryeo Tribe to arrive and shake up the investigation team while they provided full support from the rear. A full-on battle with the central army carried meaning beyond mere resistance, so they had intended to insert the Cheonryeo as a buffer in the middle.
“It fell through. The bastards betrayed us. We need to hurry and retake the manor before the central army arrives. We have to hold out until First Prince Marib’s reply comes.”
They were enduring this humiliation because of the border position, but it was also worth it for that same reason. Bratz had two or three times as many soldiers as other territories, and its unique terrain created countless variables.
And that was not all.
Thanks to the Cheonryeo Tribe’s presence, they were always thoroughly prepared for sudden war. The fact that they could rally the soldiers even against the investigation team’s abrupt raid was proof of that.
For the first time in his life, Derga felt pride in his territory and soldiers.
“We obey.”
“Unlike the central army, the investigation team’s forces aren’t that impressive. Let’s go. Kill them all. Tear them to shreds and feed them to the beasts.”
Deo bowed his head and grinned.
There was always someone who craved war. And right now, that was Deo.
‘If we win this battle, command of the army will solidly fall to me.’
Then, in Bratz territory, he would enjoy power second only to Derga. Chel? Even if that dimwit became the next count, the blood and sweat Deo shed this day would be remembered forever.
He too had risen from the bottom, and the heart of a man on the cusp of life’s peak began to race.
“Let’s go! To reclaim our daily lives!”
“Waaaaah!”
Deo’s shout drew a wave of soldiers’ cheers that echoed like the roar of the sea. It was a fierce shout that made the quiet mountain tremble. Startled birds took flight, and amid them, a massive hawk circled leisurely.
Whoosh.
Far off in the distance, the long column of the central army was captured in the hawk’s eyes. Bratz territory, passed down for generations. A blood feud among their own people, unprecedented before and unlikely ever again, was drawing near.
Watching it all, Su extended her hand to retrieve the hawk and fixed Kusille’s head toward the Great Desert.
* * *
Berik’s body was soaked in cold sweat. The frail physician stuffed clumps of herbs into the hole in his side and kept pouring some unidentified black liquid into his mouth.
Kakantir leaned against the entrance of the tent, watching, then asked casually.
“How long until he can get up? A month?”
“Kakan, those not of the Cheonryeo bloodline have low recovery power. If he were a regular person, he’d likely be dead already. But given his fiery temperament, I’d say it’ll take three or four months of rest.”
“Three or four months. That’ll be tricky for Lord Ian.”
The clash between Derga and the central army was on the verge of erupting.
Even if Ian had the Cheonryeo Tribe at his back, his personal forces were just Berik. Without even him in this chaotic situation……
Ian smiled faintly and brushed Berik’s sweat-matted hair aside. It was a mess of sweat and sand.
“It’s fine.”
“You have something in mind.”
“Whether Berik wakes or not, there will be a way. There always is.”
Kakantir left at the sound of Ner Sarn calling from outside. The physician continued grinding blood-soaked herbs to treat Berik. As time passed, Berik’s dark skin seemed to grow paler.
“Watch him a moment. I need to prepare fresh herbs.”
The physician entrusted Ian with the task and left, burdened with debris. The space fell quiet. Ian drew a breath and placed his hand on Berik’s forehead.
‘I wonder if this will work. Berik. But it’s better than doing nothing.’
Just like before, continuously infusing mana. His condition was severe, but it would surely help. Hadn’t Berik shown his sword-mage abilities on his own? He wanted to believe the effect would be far more pronounced than last time.
Ziiing. Ziiing.
Ian activated his mana.
Unlike before, when he’d pushed only a little at a time, he kept pouring it in, and in, nonstop. It felt like exhaling without pause.
“Ah……”
How many minutes passed?
The beaded sweat poured out, and his vision began to blur. But Berik still showed no response. Unable to hold back any longer, Ian pulled his hand away.
Scrape.
“What are you doing, Lord Ian? Are you all right?”
The physician, just entering, froze and asked. Ian gripped the edge of the bed, staggering as if he might collapse.
“I’m fine.”
“Why did you suddenly……”
“Just dizziness. Don’t worry about it.”
“Wait a bit, I’ll grind these herbs and bring something good for dizziness right away. Huh? Look at this guy?”
The physician, changing the cloth, paused at Berik’s face. The man who had been groaning in a faint now breathed much more steadily. He touched the damp herbs. Far less blood came away.
“What the hell is this guy?”
“…Berik?”
“Not the name. I didn’t see the battle myself, but everyone was buzzing about it.”
The physician muttered as he resumed treatment, glancing as if expecting an answer, but Ian, drained of strength, turned his head away.
“…Kakan?”
Kakantir entered holding something in his hand. He looked at Ian’s state and smiled curiously.
“Oh dear. Running low?”
“On what?”
Kakantir silently placed a Gurut Leaf on the round candlestick. It crackled as it burned, filling the tent with thick smoke. The clan leader handled a leaf expertly and held it to Berik’s nose, then offered one to Ian.
“It’s how the Cheonryeo avoid death.”
“Will it work on Berik too?”
“Who knows. Never seen an outsider use it. But at the feast, he seemed to react a bit.”
A secret technique of the tribe that erased pain and surged energy through the body in an instant. They were strong on their own, but the effects of the Gurut Leaf couldn’t be ignored. That was why, even in trade with Bratz, Gurut Leaves were never banned.
And now, sharing it with outsiders.
The meaning was profound, the sentiment fresh.
“Thank you.”
Ian chewed the leaf thoroughly. Bitter, followed by sour and a sharp tang. Kakantir gazed at him steadily before continuing.
“Rul, whom I sent with Su, returned first. Su’s waiting at the border.”
“That giant hawk?”
“Yes. Just as you said, Derga’s cornered. Seems he’s gathered his soldiers.”
Bratz’s forces were somewhat predictable. They had seen and heard things while living at the manor. Above all, knowing how much he poured into maintaining private soldiers, numbers weren’t an issue.
“And the central army?”
“No report on that yet.”
The problem was the central army and investigation team’s scale. Knowing that would allow predicting the battle and preparing countermeasures. Ian felt his heart pounding harder and spat out the Gurut Leaf.
“Rest for a few days. You’ve got time.”
As soon as Kakantir left, Ian collapsed sideways and curled up. The physician glanced over and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders.
How much time passed like that.
Swaaah.
Ian’s eyes snapped open to a sudden rush of cold wind. Night had fallen dimly. The physician was gone, the candle extinguished. Only a faint Gurut Leaf scent lingered.
“…Berik?”
Berik was no longer sweating coldly, but still comatose. Ian leaned against the bed, rubbing his face to shake off drowsy sleep.
Swish.
Then, a sound came from outside.
It wasn’t just the wind that woke him. He stared fixedly at the entrance, groping the floor. Berik’s sword belt lay there, dagger attached.
“Who’s there?”
No answer.
Ian walked slowly to the entrance, the pouring moonlight at his back. His shadow stretched long. Instinct told him someone stood before the flap.
‘Damn it. This doesn’t make sense.’
Whoever was outside had to be Cheonryeo. They were the only ones living as a tribe in the Great Desert, and even if Derga sent a spy, they couldn’t slip past the Cheonryeo guards to reach here.
So Ian couldn’t fathom it.
Just earlier that day, they’d been friendly enough to share Gurut Leaves with him and Berik, so why was the presence outside radiating killing intent?
Shwick!
The flap was kicked open from outside. Sensing Ian’s hesitation, they acted first.
A hide mask and feathers shrouding the shoulders. The man swung his sword straight at Ian.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
It was less blocking and more luckily deflecting.
Ian’s reflexive dagger swing snapped it in half, clattering to the floor. The assailant didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Ian’s face roughly with one hand and clamped his throat with the other.
Thud!
“Mmph!”
Sealing off any cry for help.
Ian’s feet kicked in the air. So this was what it felt like to have your breath cut short—pain he’d never known in his life. Who would dare grab Emperor Ian’s neck?
“If you’re trash, stay buried like trash. Don’t go scheming.”
The voice wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.
“Do you know how messed up things are because of you and that redhead? Damn imperials are no help at all. Your father was the same.”
Mentioning Derga?
Ian reached for the man’s face as if to push him away. A worry that the hide mask might neutralize mana……
Ziiing. Ziiing.
“Die quietly even now—!”
Swaaah!
Boom!
Ian unleashed his mana like an explosion. The sudden shock hurled the assailant back, and Ian floated into the air before crashing down.
Thud!
“…Damn.”
Ian coughed, sprawled on the ground. His wrist throbbed from the bad landing. At the same time, lights flickered on outside the tent, one by one.
The light-sleeping Cheonryeo had sensed the commotion and woken.