Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Execution
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The territory's residents gathered in the square whispered among themselves as they stared at the gallows. Having lived their entire lives on the frontier, it was their first time seeing such a grotesque and terrifying execution device. Behind them, the Bratz estate on the hill stood as quietly as ever.
"Hanging?"
"Tax evasion is a serious crime, and he resisted on top of that."
"Good lord. How did it come to this...."
"No, wait. So they collected all that tax from us, but didn't send it up to the capital? Then where did the money go?"
"Straight into their bellies, that's why they're so fat."
"That crazy bastard, for real! We sold our houses to pay taxes. Our daughters learned to walk and right away had backs bent from field work!"
"Shh, keep it down. You trying to get us in trouble?"
"What's there to fear! He's not a noble anymore, just a criminal. Might as well die screaming instead of going quietly! Why'd he even raise soldiers?"
"Exactly. If I'd known it'd come to this, I wouldn't have sent the kids to the estate...."
"It would've all been fine if the Count hadn't done what he did. We've suffered for nothing. Money stolen, homes smashed in the fighting...."
To them, hanging was an utterly dishonorable death. For a noble, especially a lord facing savages on the frontier, it was proper to end one's life by the sword.
Especially not dangling and kicking in front of the lowly folk. Hanging was a punishment that killed one's dignity along with one's life.
"But the Cheonryeo Tribe making the gallows?"
"Who else could haul logs that big?"
Ironically, it was not Variel people but the border savages preparing the gallows for Derga. Of course, having never made one before, they were following the investigation team's instructions, but the atmosphere hardly felt like they were the ones being ordered around.
"Ah, damn it, tell me all at once. Don't make me go back and forth."
"S-sorry. After erecting and securing the post, bind it tight with rope. That should do it."
On the high platform facing the gallows, Kakantir gazed at the territory residents in the square and the gradually forming structure, feeling a strange sensation anew.
Just a few months ago, Derga had been maintaining a delicate relationship between ally and enemy nation. Now, that leader was about to hang before the lowly folk, while he himself would watch from on high.
'Life really is unpredictable.'
Meanwhile, at the estate, Erica was racking her brains writing the proclamation. It was crucial work to explain Derga's crimes in terms even commoners could understand and proclaim the imperial palace's dignity and her own achievements to all under heaven.
Dr-r-rk.
Below, Ian arrived at the underground prison. Derga, locked in the farthest cell, had gravel in his mouth and cloth blocking his vision. His swollen limbs dangled from shackles. He was in a state where dying at any moment wouldn't be surprising.
"Open the door."
Clank.
At Ian's command, the Cheonryeo opened it without question. Derga perked his ears as if recognizing Ian's voice. A rotten stench of filth and blood wafted from him.
"Count Derga. It's Ian."
"Ugh...."
Now not even father and son titles remained. As Derga twitched in response, the connected shackles clanged chillingly.
Kiriirik.
"The execution date has been set."
"...!"
"In that short time, you sent a letter to the palace. Looks like you snitched to Prince Marib?"
Derga looked up toward Ian, but with his eyes covered, his expression was hidden. Still, Ian could guess the man's gaze was badly shaken beneath the cloth.
"Thanks to you, things worked out nicely. Erica won't get her lord appointment document. That gives us reason to hurry and leave Bratz, and advances your execution as well."
Derga strained to thrust his fist out with all his might, but it could never reach.
He regretted it. Back when he first brought the boy from the brothel, as Mary said, he should have crippled him somewhere to prevent any nonsense, regardless of public eyes!
"...Mmph!"
"Mary and Chel are dead too."
"...."
"Among those bearing the Bratz name, you're the last survivor. Congratulations. You've earned a glory no one else could."
Derga's face flushed red. The blood surging reverse was plain to see. Ian grabbed his hair and left his final words.
"Don't feel too wronged. It's all your karma, isn't it?"
The child born from raping a brothel woman. Not content, separating him from his birth mother and abusing him daily to sell as a sacrifice. Scheming behind the Cheonryeo Tribe's back out of greed. Being shunned by both the center and the residents for excessive tax games, and more.
From one to ten, nothing he hadn't brought on himself.
"Master Ian. Kakantir is calling."
"Let's go."
Ian left the underground prison, leaving behind Derga who screamed silently.
Outside stood spears towering well above a grown man's height, lined in a row.
"Oh, Lord Ian. Take a look at these."
"What is it?"
"Do the spear lengths seem all right?"
Ian scanned the spears meant to pierce Derga's heart. He glanced toward the window where Investigation Leader Erica was.
"They're the highlight of the execution, so best discuss with Leader Erica and note it in the proclamation."
"Hmm. Yeah. Good idea."
It had been a casual glance, but Erica looked down at them with a haggard face. When their eyes met, she irritably drew the curtains.
Swish!
'Damn situation.'
Erica pressed her temple, muttering curses. Not even a single explanatory letter from Molin. He surely knew of the council's decision, so a messenger bird should arrive around the same time.
"Fucking old bastard!"
Meeting Molin in person might resolve things, but after Derga's execution, they would surely have to leave Bratz territory. Ian and the Cheonryeo Tribe wouldn't let them linger. Even if she'd sent a letter with departure, it would be halfway there by now....
'This won't do. I need to prepare my own countermeasures.'
Erica pondered deeply, then pulled out fresh paper and began writing letters. One demanding explanation from Molin, the other to First Prince Marib.
As the enemy of my enemy is my friend, openly aligning with that side didn't seem a bad idea to avoid becoming a chased dog.
Swiik.
Instead of her seal, Erica sliced her thumb and stamped blood. Magic potion could verify her identity.
"Lady Erica. I found the documents you requested."
"That Ian bastard tied it up tight."
"Thorough enough to head out immediately."
"Annoying prick. Tsk! Leave them there."
The investigation team member compiled key evidence of Derga's tax evasion and handed it to Erica, its details written into the proclamation.
To inform the residents of the meaning of his death on the day he died.
* * *
The day finally arrived. Right the next day after the gallows were built. Everyone from the estate gathered outside the underground prison entrance.
"Bring out Derga."
"Yes, Master Ian."
At Ian's order, two Cheonryeo warriors dragged Derga up.
"Derga Bratz. The time for your execution has come."
At Erica's words, Derga's body trembled violently. Aside from his limbs slack, his eyes and mouth remained bound as before. Erica nodded to her subordinates, leading him to the square.
"Move quickly."
"Huh? Still dawdling?"
He had to walk barefoot on Bratz soil as atonement. Each shambling step clanged the iron chains. Very slowly, like a beast dragged to slaughter, he kept his head bowed.
"Derga Bratz. Move."
Crack!
"...Ugh!"
Unable to help it, an investigation team member swung the whip, and Derga groaned, taking one step at a time. Nearly pushed forcibly.
"It's Count Bratz...."
"Good heavens, what a state."
"He's worse than us, skinned alive!"
"Die! Die! You sucked our blood and even killed our families! Because of you!"
"Really? Is that really Lord Derga?"
Gasps from the residents echoed on the way to the square. The family head's wretched form, seen for the first time in their lives. Truly shocking, as similar words repeated until arrival.
Is that, really, Derga? That was the core.
"Climb up."
"Hng...."
Swiik! Thud!
"Derga! Was this truly your best?"
"You bastard! That's why you should've done better!"
"Die in agony! Please!"
The moment his accumulated karma exploded at once. As Derga hesitated up the stairs, stones flew at him.
Some vented fury that their wives had been toyed with by Derga, others lamented becoming lame from beatings over unpaid taxes. Mary and Chel's names were heard in passing.
"Did they catch Mary and Chel?"
"Dunno."
"But if those two are alive, it's not full extermination, right?"
"Rumor is the remaining investigation team joins the pursuit after the execution."
"Yeah? Then all the outsiders really leave."
"Cheonryeo Tribe stays, but they won't last the winter."
"Ah! Finally, daily life returns."
Bwooo-
An investigation team member blew the horn. The rowdy spectators gradually quieted. Soon, Leader Erica stood beside Derga and raised the proclamation.
"I am Imperial Investigation Leader Bertie Erica. Now, in His Majesty's name, I shall announce the crimes of the sinner, Count Derga Bratz."
She read out in detail the charges against Derga they had investigated and the evidence.
Frankly, the commoners had no idea what most words meant, but as the content dragged on, their fury deepened at his corrupt deeds. And that it came at the cost of their blood and sweat.
"Especially, Monne Mine production reached 60,000 tons, but central reports were half that, the difference equaling a staggering 8,000 gold coins. This is but a fraction of the unreported assets over the years...."
"What? 8,000 gold coins?"
"I didn't hear wrong, did I?"
Ian, listening below, could feel the rising heat physically. Harvest yields or profit shares meant nothing. To commoners, it was simply spelled out as "gold coins."
"You filthy scum! How could you?"
"Kill him! Kill him now!"
Stones and trash flew again from below. Leader Erica ignored the piling at her feet and read the final line.
"Thus, for all bearing the Bratz name in the Variel Empire, only eternal death awaits. By imperial decree, House Bratz is extinguished."
Thwak!
At that moment, a stone struck Derga's temple hard. Erica signaled her team to proceed with the rite.
"Remove the blindfold."