Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Secret Space
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There had never been days as chaotic and awkward as these in the history of Bratz. Not only had the people who considered themselves one Bariel nation turned swords on each other, but the bastard son they thought dead had returned. And he had come back backed by the Cheonryeo Tribe, whom they had regarded as lifelong enemies.
"The world... might be coming to an end...."
An old man with a hunched back muttered as he looked up at the Bratz estate. What an incongruous sight. Soldiers bearing imperial palace flags were stationed alongside Cheonryeo warriors. And all in one place, at the estate's main building, no less.
The old man shook his head and loaded the headless corpses onto the cart.
Creak.
The atmosphere inside the estate was even more awkward than it appeared from outside. Their incompatible presences were like water and oil, but that wasn't the biggest problem.
"Countess Mary and Chel's bodies are nowhere to be found."
"Did you check the decapitated ones thoroughly?"
"We examined their clothing and even their fingernails, but nothing suggested they were nobles. The bodies swept down the river haven't been recovered yet, so they might be mixed in there."
Erika bit her nails at her subordinate's report. They had secured Derga in custody, but they couldn't find any trace of his wife and child, Mary and Chel.
"Check the dismembered ones too."
"Understood."
"We must find the bodies. Search the estate thoroughly."
Only by confirming the corpses could they claim the mission was complete if they were dead. Besides, had they turned the territory upside down? If the cleanup wasn't thorough, it could shake the central government's trust.
"...And if you find the bodies, you know what to do, right?"
"We'll keep them hidden until the appointment decree arrives from the palace."
If Mary and Chel were dead, there was no reason to delay Derga's execution. Then Bratz would lose any pretext for her to stay. Whether she could re-enter the territory occupied by the Cheonryeo Tribe would be uncertain.
'Damn it!'
Erika bit her nails again. Bits of her gnawed nails rolled around in her mouth.
Meanwhile, in a small room at the back of the corridor.
Kakantir, Nersarn, and Ian sat in a circle. Nersarn spoke first.
"Lord Ian. About Erika. It seems she's waiting for the title appointment decree, doesn't it?"
"I felt the same. It was a forced march all the way to the border's edge, so it was probably decided from the moment she was appointed investigation leader."
"It's been nearly half a month since Erika came down here. The decree will arrive soon, and then it will be difficult for us to stay stationed here."
Ian shook his head at Nersarn's words. As Erika had said, title appointments were the emperor's prerogative. No matter how much 2nd Prince Gail pushed for Erika, there had to be results.
"Derga was captured today, so even if they send a messenger bird right away, it will take nearly half a month. No need to worry about that."
Imperial decrees were heavy and precious, so they couldn't use messenger birds—only relay couriers.
Nersarn did some mental calculations on the dates and looked a bit relieved.
"Anyway, isn't it a done deal that Erika becomes the lord? The Cheonryeo have already invested so much. And now it's all going to waste."
The future benefits from backing Ian, Derga's direct execution, and more. The Cheonryeo had conceded much in this plan.
"No, Kakan. The flow of events is favorable."
"Can you explain?"
"First, Mary and Chel's custody hasn't been secured."
"Is that a good thing? That's why those guys are shoving their asses into this estate and camping out."
"Didn't Erika light the fire herself? Her mission is the annihilation of House Bratz and securing their custody."
At that point, Nersarn, who caught on first, let out an exclamation.
"Ah... so then?"
Their lingering here was based on the premise that Mary and Chel were somewhere in the territory.
But if it was confirmed they had gone outside, they would be obligated to pursue Mary and Chel.
They would serve as bait.
"Also, the central government absolutely cannot cast me out."
"What's the basis?"
"It's because of the very reason you're curious about, Kakan."
That Ian was a Mana User. Though born lowly, they couldn't dare push out Erika with Ian confidently asserting it.
"Fine. Good. We've only just caught Derga, so we'll watch a bit more."
"Thank you, Kakan."
"So what do we do now? Should we go to the village and search the bodies as the leader said?"
"No. Instead, help the wounded. Now that the battle has settled, things will revolve around reconstruction for a while. The territory people's support is one of the key foundations on the border, so please do that."
Kakantir's eyes narrowed slyly.
The more he looked at him, the cuter this guy seemed. Without lifting a finger, he was using the Cheonryeo's strength to shower Bariel with all sorts of help.
Only sixteen? Hard to believe. But like a boy that age, Ian grinned broadly and met Kakantir's gaze.
'What are you looking at? It's not wrong.'
Right, it wasn't wrong.
From the central perspective, the border was just a lump of land that paid taxes well and guarded the frontier—no matter how it operated internally. That meant it was independent from the palace's influence.
To run the territory smoothly without issues, it would need a capable and recognized family head. This could be seen as work for the latter.
"And you?"
"I have some business. I heard Derga set fire to the annex and fled. That might be the 'time of Mary and Chel's disappearance' that Erika mentioned."
If they weren't in the territory and hadn't gone outside...
There was a possibility they were hiding somewhere in the estate. Great estates always had at least one secret passage. The problem was that all the servants who might know clues were dead.
"We'll move once Berik returns from his errand. Kakan, rest with the warriors a bit and then head down."
Kakantir took a swig from the wine bottle and glanced at Ian. Having ridden this far together, there was no other choice.
Time passed, into the afternoon.
As soon as Berik, who had been out on an errand, arrived, the first thing he saw was Ian driving two Kusille.
"You're back?"
"What are you doing? Going out again?"
"You know where I used to live, right?"
The place where bastard Ian lived. He knew it was the worst of the brothel districts, but not the exact address.
"I know. But why? Philia was doing fine in the forest. She looked healthy, eating and sleeping alone."
"Shh. I told you to be careful."
"It's fine, fine. No one's around."
The Cheonryeo Tribe didn't even know Ian's birth mother was alive. It wouldn't be a weakness now, but it was awkward to reveal it first.
"Anyway, why there?"
"I'm going to look for Hanna now."
Mary and Chel—no matter how he thought about it, the estate's secret passage was suspicious. How could a woman and child pierce through that chaos? If dead, their bodies would have been found early.
It might be Erika's shallow trick, but he had to check until he could confirm otherwise.
Clop clop.
"This way?"
"Uh-huh. Probably."
Berik pinched his nose lightly and led the way. It was a back alley where lanes twisted like a maze. Even without drugs, the unwary would have their pockets picked immediately—it was cut off from the outside.
"Here."
"This place?"
Good lord. Ian managed his expression as best he could and clicked his tongue.
Going down to the semi-basement revealed rooms branching out like an anthill. One of them had been Ian and Philia's home. Rats scurried about, and the moldy smell overpowered the stench of war.
"Why? Were you talking about your old place? I don't know that one."
Ian must have moved into the Bratz estate and relocated. Derga had used his influence to economically strangle Philia, and this was the result.
"Tsk."
Ian clicked his tongue once and turned away without regret. The abandoned nest seemed to hold nothing of value. He went back to the main path and nodded at Berik.
"Ask around for Hanna."
"Me?"
"You want me to do it?"
"...Hey, you passing guy! Got a question."
While Berik wandered around grabbing people, Ian carefully surveyed the surroundings. But with everything so messy and wretched, nothing caught his eye except pity.
But then.
"Ian! Over here!"
Hanna's family was famous for having five younger siblings. Plus, as a servant who worked at the estate, she must have stood out among the neighbors.
"Up the stairs to the second floor."
The moment he set foot on the stairs, a baby's cry rang out.
Waaah!
"Oh dear. What's wrong now."
"Hanna?"
Hanna, who had been soothing the newborn in her arms, startled and turned around. Seeing Ian and Berik, she broke into a surprised smile.
"Young master! Berik!"
"Glad to see you're safe."
"You've returned! It's a relief Lord Ian is alive too!"
"No damage to the house?"
"Yes. We didn't have anyone conscripted into the soldiers.... My parents thank the heavens every night that they came out of the estate."
But her slightly gaunt face suggested hardship. The windows and the door Ian had broken into were boarded up with nailed planks. It was to prevent intruders during the height of the battle.
Ian smiled faintly and stroked the baby's hand.
"So you're the sibling I've only heard about."
"Yes. And there are more. But...."
Hanna poured out words like a burst dam.
"Did you come here looking for me? More importantly, is it okay for you to come back like this? You're Derga's son too, aren't you? I thought the rumor about returning with the Cheonryeo Tribe was a lie...."
"Yeah. It's fine. More importantly, I have something to ask."
Hanna soothed the baby and pulled out a chair for Ian.
"I'm curious if there are any rumors or ghost stories about secretly going down into the estate."
"Pardon? Suddenly?"
"I'm asking if there's a secret passage somewhere."
For example, ghosts appearing at the end of a certain floor's corridor, or human voices from a room the master forbade entry to. Such tales usually stemmed from using secret passages.
"Hmm. Well, I've never heard any ghost stories. And even less about secret passages or spaces."
"Of course. If you knew, it wouldn't be a secret space."
"You're the same as ever, Berik."
Berik and Hanna exchanged playful glances. Meanwhile, Ian crossed his arms and leaned back, looking troubled.
"...It would have been great if the steward were alive."
But unfortunately, he had been found with his arms severed. Not by the central army, but by soldiers from the neighboring Merelrof territory.
He must have fled and mistakenly entered the border area. The Merelrof side had stopped by Bratz under the pretext of handing over the body to gauge the situation.
"The steward passed away too?"
"Ah. Yeah."
Hanna gave an awkward smile and looked down at her sibling. Ian didn't miss that brief subtle shift.
"What's wrong?"
"Pardon? No, nothing. It's just sad, isn't it? Most of the people who lived in the estate are dead...."
Was that really all?
Ian met Hanna's eyes with a sharp gaze. She let out a sigh as if she couldn't help it.