Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Chapter 12 - A Perfect Opportunity
Human memory is finite and unreliable.
Yet, just as one never forgets how to breathe, everyone has at least one thing they will always remember.
For Ferda, it was the people he hated.
Not merely their names, but a list of those he loathed and wished to take revenge upon—a kill list.
To fuel his hatred, he dug into their achievements.
To prepare for revenge, he carefully searched for their weaknesses.
"Now that I think about it, it really was something absurd."
Looking back on why he had hated them in the first place, it was all filled with paranoia.
It was so petty that it made his face flush with embarrassment.
"Still, now that I’ve returned to the past, all of that has become valuable information."
Ferda clearly remembered the strengths and weaknesses of those who would become great figures in the future.
People who would have accomplished even more if only they had taken a different path.
People who would have achieved greatness if they had discovered their true talents just a little earlier.
"There are many outstanding individuals."
Far too many.
Recruiting every one of them was simply impossible.
There were well over a hundred people who caught his interest, and he never expected them all to work together.
"First, I need to establish priorities."
Now that he had become the fiancé and acting representative of Grand Duchess Valdrova, Ferda considered what he needed most.
"The entirety of Grand Duchess Valdrova’s domain has effectively been neglected."
The Grand Duchess had entrusted self-governance to the local lords instead of ruling directly.
With no one overseeing them, public sentiment had steadily deteriorated.
"The people’s livelihood has to come first."
Although Ferda had decided what needed to be done, carrying it out would be anything but easy.
Whenever a monarch interfered with regional lords, resistance—or even civil war—was a common outcome.
"Fortunately, that problem has already been resolved."
When Ferda had sent out his letters, he had naturally expected the nobles at the top to resist.
Instead, his prediction had been spectacularly wrong, and the remaining fourteen lords had each sent letters swearing their loyalty.
"It seems Luri’s habit of beheading people and hanging their heads on the city gates worked remarkably well."
The lords had realized that underestimating Ferda would be a grave mistake, so he decided to leave them alone for the time being.
"With internal affairs settled for now, it’s time to deal with external threats."
The most obvious threats were the Monsters and demonic creatures that spread chaos.
The territory of the Grand Duchess lay in the far eastern region, bordering lands corrupted by the Demon King.
That corruption had gradually begun spreading into the neighboring areas as well.
"One of the primary causes is the demonic creatures."
Creatures born from or corrupted by demonic energy were a common class of Monsters.
They occasionally appeared even in the central continent, so it was only natural that they were far more common in the far east, adjacent to the Land of Demons.
"Their very existence contaminates the land."
The longer those creatures remained in one place, the faster the land withered.
Life could no longer flourish there, and even existing living beings became corrupted.
That was why extermination requests for such creatures were always treated as urgent, no matter where one went.
"If we can reduce casualties and land contamination caused by those creatures..."
Food production would naturally increase, and the people’s livelihood would recover.
If Grand Duchess Valdrova protected the realm from external threats, then Ferda would deal with the internal ones.
"And to do that, what we need most is technology."
His highest priority was to develop methods that would allow not only well-trained soldiers but even ordinary civilians to hunt those creatures effectively.
Using that as his standard, Ferda searched through the names on his kill list.
After narrowing them down, only four people remained.
"So these are the individuals we must recruit before anyone else."
As Luri accepted the sheet of paper from him, she read the names written on it.
— Vernel Marquis.
— Zed Swallow.
— Echidna Phyliaz.
— Hellus Fovidas.
The moment she saw them, she frowned.
"I’ve never heard of a single one of these people."
"That’s understandable. None of them have made a name for themselves yet."
"I told you to recruit talented people, not invite your childhood friends over to play government."
Luri’s gaze sharpened.
The emotional pressure of her Dragon Fear wrapped itself around Ferda.
"There’s definitely been a change."
Ever since the engagement ceremony, the effects of her Dragon Fear had noticeably weakened.
Even so, it still left him feeling uncomfortable.
A girl who looked about fourteen years old was glaring at him.
Anyone who remained completely unaffected would have been the strange one.
"Do I really look like the sort of person who’d do something like that?"
"That’s exactly why I’m suspicious."
"That’s a contradiction."
"Anyway, could you at least tell me about these people? Aside from Hellus Fovidas, I’ve never even heard of the other three."
Hellus Fovidas was a Mage known throughout the world as the Sage of Water.
His advice was said to be so wise that kings and lords alike treasured his counsel.
"I guarantee you that the three people above Hellus Fovidas are even more important."
"Then please explain."
"The first person we need to meet is Vernel Marquis. He lives in a city called Escolleia."
The moment she heard the city’s name, Luri immediately asked,
"A scholar?"
"That’s right."
Escolleia was a city in the central eastern part of the continent, famous as the City of Scholars.
There was only one reason to visit a chicken farm—to find chickens or eggs.
Likewise, hearing the name of that city was enough for Luri to immediately realize he was talking about a scholar.
"You know scholars receive titles upon graduation, don’t you?"
"I’ve heard they receive them after graduating from the academy. What does that have to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it. This man received the title ’Utter Disaster’."
"Are you trying to turn our castle into complete chaos? Revealing your true colors right after our engagement doesn’t seem like the wisest decision."
A scholar’s title could determine the course of their entire life, so negative titles were almost never given.
If someone was openly called Utter Disaster, it meant even those around him could no longer tolerate his behavior.
"There was a reason he received that title. He constantly pursued ideas no one else would even attempt."
"If scholars don’t attempt something, isn’t there usually a good reason why they don’t?"
"Of course. But he’s the kind of person who keeps trying anyway."
"So... he’s an idiot?"
"No. He’s a man of conviction."
"A stubborn fool, then."
Ferda couldn’t deny it.
The first time he met the man, he had thought exactly the same thing.
Ignoring everyone’s ridicule and walking his own lonely path made him look both pathetic and strangely dignified.
"And that stubborn fool eventually succeeds."
No matter how many people cursed him, no matter how many mocked him for wasting his time, the lonely road he devoted himself to would eventually shine.
Whenever that day came, he would always say the same thing.
"If only I’d been able to spend more time researching... I could have created so much more by now."
It was only natural.
"What fool would invest in something that could never succeed?"
Even nobles wealthy enough to throw money away would think the same.
No one wanted to become the fool who funded an eccentric bearing the title Utter Disaster.
But Ferda knew this man.
"So what exactly does he research?"
One day, he would become...The pioneer who would usher in the age of magitech.
"The refinement of Mana stones from the corpses of demonic creatures, and methods for processing them into power sources."
***
At the center of the city stood a single towering World Tree known as the Tree of Knowledge, reaching toward the heavens.
Surrounding it were five great libraries.
At first glance, one might assume the area beneath the tree received almost no sunlight.
However, the Tree of Knowledge bore no leaves, making it little more than a gigantic pillar.
Within the city beneath that pillar, instead of the usual scent of dampness and mildew, the air was saturated with the rich aroma of coffee and black tea.
Countless people, already accustomed to the smell, hurried busily through the streets.
They had somehow turned every available path into an efficient flow of traffic.
Though each person headed toward a different destination, they all had three books tucked beneath one arm and a freshly toasted slice of bread clenched between their teeth.
"There are so many people."
"This is where every scholar and their employees gather. It’s only natural."
"I don’t understand why anyone would want to live somewhere this cramped."
"They say they’re searching for something more valuable than a comfortable life."
"I don’t understand that."
"Neither do I."
Ferda and Luri quietly surveyed the streets.
Even within their immediate field of vision, hundreds of people pushed past one another as they hurried about.
Every single one wore a black robe, and nine out of ten had glasses.
"So now we’re supposed to find one person in all of this?"
"That’s right."
"It’ll take us over a month."
Finding him would be nearly impossible, comparable to the highest difficulty in a hidden-picture puzzle.
Claiming otherwise would have been a lie.
Since this was a place with constant foot traffic, street vendors were also busily lining the walls.
Most of them sold finger foods that could be eaten on the go.
As countless people flowed through the streets like a river, they casually picked up a snack as they passed.
"The street vendors might know something."
Thinking that, Ferda turned to look at Luri.
"......"
The expression in her eyes was noticeably different from what he was used to seeing.
A businesslike, emotionless face.
It was another side of her—one she only showed when she wasn’t angry.
She was quietly staring at a stall selling candied fruit.
Her round silver eyes sparkled.
She stared at it for quite a while before her slender throat bobbed up and down.
Gulp.
That entire sequence of actions could only mean one thing.
"Do you want some?"
"...What do you take me for?"
Luri narrowed her eyes and grumbled.
Her reaction was far more flustered than usual.
"I simply thought that vendor over there might know something."
"I thought the same. We should ask."
Together, Ferda and Luri walked toward the stall.
Luri’s eyes never left the candied fruit.
"Excuse me."
"Well now, a young nobleman and an adorable little maid. What can I get for you?"
"I’m looking for someone. I’d appreciate it if you happened to know him."
"Someone? There are people everywhere around here! Just the bespectacled folks alone number in the tens of thousands. I’ve sold these honey fruit skewers to thousands of them. How could I possibly remember every single face?"
The vendor wore a peculiar smile full of expectation.
Ferda lowered his gaze toward the candied fruit behind the glass display.
"If I buy a few skewers, will your memory suddenly improve?"
"Haha! I’d certainly appreciate that! Still, let’s hear who you’re looking for first."
"A scholar known as ’Utter Disaster’."
The vendor’s eyes widened.
"Oh, Utter Disaster? Why didn’t you say so sooner?"
"You know him?"
The vendor grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people living in this city. But if someone doesn’t know where the man called Utter Disaster lives, they’re practically a spy. Stop anyone on the street and ask. I bet every last one of them knows."
"Then I suppose there’s no need for me to buy those candied fruits after all?"
"...!"
Luri, who had been silently listening the entire time, suddenly flinched.
"Even so, I think it would be proper to show some appreciation by buying something."
The vendor quickly nodded along.
"Exactly! Judging by your appearance, you look like a wealthy gentleman. It’s nice to enjoy a little snack once in a while. Three skewers for five copper coins."
"She’s right. If someone shows you kindness, it’s only proper to reward them accordingly."
Luri subtly sided with the vendor.
If someone extended goodwill, it was only right to respond in kind.
Ferda agreed with that principle, so he purchased three candied fruit skewers.
"Here."
He handed the sticky honey-covered skewers to Luri.
"Aren’t you going to eat any, Lord Ferda?"
"I’m not a child."
"Hah? Neither am I."
"I know."
"Then isn’t it ridiculous that you’re giving all of them to me? You’re treating me like a child, aren’t you? Are you really going to lie with a straight face?"
"So... you don’t want them?"
"..."
Although she looked thoroughly indignant, Luri still accepted the skewers from his hand.
As though she had been waiting for permission all along, she immediately popped one of the honey-coated fruits into her mouth.
Her silver eyes sparkled even brighter.
"So she can make an expression like that."
For a moment, Ferda had wondered whether Luri’s emotions had dried up just as his own had.
But seeing her act like a child despite her usual appearance oddly reassured him.
As she continued stuffing the candied fruit into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel preparing for winter.
Noticing Ferda watching her, her eyes darted toward him.
Her silver eyes narrowed, and she instinctively pulled the cup of fruit closer to her chest.
"Why are you staring? I’m not sharing."
"I’m not eating."
***
Every living creature has its own place in the hierarchy.
Where there are wealthy people, there are also those living in poverty.
Escolleia, founded on the ideal that all were equal before knowledge, was no exception.
The city had affluent districts.
It also had slums.
And even within those slums, there was a separate district where the poorest of the poor lived.
A place where sunlight barely reached.
A place reeking of sewers and rat droppings.
A place where the stench was so overwhelming that opening a door felt like an act of courage.
That was exactly where Vernel Marquis lived.
Looking at a window positioned lower than her own height, Luri couldn’t hide her amazement.
"People actually manage to live in a place like this."
"Humans can survive in more places than you’d think. They can even sleep in a toilet."
"Did you live like that in House Rosnova?"
"It was even worse back then."
It had been during the days when he had no money, when his money-obsessed master had taken every last coin he possessed.
Back then, Ferda had learned that people really could sleep in a filthy toilet that reeked of urine and excrement.
"Do you think he’s inside?"
Luri nodded at Ferda’s question.
"I can sense someone’s presence."
Crash!
A loud commotion erupted from beyond the window.
After listening for a moment, she added,
"And it sounds like something serious is happening in there."
"So someone arrived before us..."
Going in now meant getting caught up in whatever trouble was unfolding.
"A more perfect opportunity couldn’t have presented itself."
With his hands clasped behind his back, Ferda calmly descended the stairs.
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