Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Chapter 18 - No Turning Back
Ferda climbed to the top of a lonely mountain.
There was only one reason he had asked Luri to help him reach the summit.
It was to watch Valdrova fight.
"KROOOOAAAR!"
A thunderous roar shook heaven and earth.
Today, she had halted the advance of over a hundred Monsters.
In the past, this would have been enough to leave him unable to breathe, yet now he remained as calm as if he were gazing at a distant mountain.
The effects of that liquor are certainly real.
His fear of dragons had vanished, and even the Dragon Fear they emitted no longer had much influence over his body.
At the same time that he was astonished, another question came to mind.
"How do the others endure this? Even inside the castle, it can’t be easy."
"There are artifacts."
Luri said as she took a ring out from beneath her skirt.
It was an ordinary silver ring, but strange characters were engraved inside it.
Ferda could not read those characters.
"It tracks the locations of the castle’s employees and reduces their fear of dragons. With these, up to one hundred employees can live inside the castle without any problems."
"Does it have an effect similar to what I drank?"
"Not quite. They still retain some fear of dragons in their hearts."
"You certainly prepared a lot."
"We made far more preparations than necessary."
"Hmm..."
After thinking quietly for a moment, Ferda turned his head again.
"You said there are a hundred of those?"
"That’s correct."
"Then couldn’t I have been wearing one from the beginning?"
"That’s correct."
"Then why didn’t you give me one?"
Luri’s eyes slowly rolled in a circle before she shrugged.
"You never asked."
At that moment, Ferda truly realized just how much Luri had disliked him before he became Valdrova’s fiancé.
Though... it feels like she still doesn’t like me.
Well, there was no point dwelling on the past.
Ferda shifted his gaze downward toward Valdrova.
One thing had changed from before.
Instead of immediately returning after finishing her task, she would turn her gaze toward him.
The pair of horns extending forward, along with another pair reaching toward the sky.
Her overwhelming presence was worthy of the title Tyrant.
He could even feel those golden eyes meeting his own.
I can feel it.
Ever since drinking the engagement wine, it felt as though an invisible thread connected him and Valdrova.
Whenever he sensed it, Ferda found himself smiling without realizing it.
And every time, Valdrova avoided his gaze and returned to her Lair.
Did I make things awkward again?
Although they were now engaged, he had never once actually spoken with her.
Whenever he tried, she only seemed to avoid him, leaving him with nothing but the chance to watch from afar.
Social anxiety... huh.
Anyone who saw her tearing Monsters apart would think she was the very image of a barbarian.
Yet, for some reason, the first thing that came to Ferda’s mind was her lips.
She truly has a talent for making someone’s heart ache.
An oasis rising from the middle of a barren desert.
The faint warmth of a blue flame burning within eternal frozen wastelands.
She was so close, yet all he could do was watch.
It was like standing before an apple he could never eat, or water he could never drink.
He felt like a sinner condemned to endless hunger and thirst.
At the very least, he wished they could meet face-to-face and speak.
"So I still can’t talk to her?"
"Yes. Her instructions are to wait until the time is right."
"It’s already been over a month."
"Compared to the years she has lived, that is no longer than the blink of an eye."
The flow of time was different for immortals and Mortals.
Impatience began to take hold of Ferda’s heart.
As her husband, it’s also my duty to wait until she has gathered her resolve.
He decided to be patient.
After all, he still had plenty of time left to live.
Luri, who had been silently watching everything, suddenly looked elsewhere.
"Lord Ferda."
"What is it?"
"We have a visitor."
Far below, in a place beyond what Ferda could see, he could barely make out something like a long line standing before the castle.
Serving as his eyes, Luri spoke.
"It seems Mr. Vernel Marquis has arrived."
Vernel Marquis.
***
When Ferda met him again, the man looked even more miserable than before.
His debts had been repaid, and the troublesome thugs no longer bothered him, but that did not mean his life had improved.
"So... I’ve given it some thought..."
"Just tell me the conclusion."
Ferda cut him off bluntly.
"I’m in no mood to listen to a long-winded explanation."
Partly, it was to prevent Vernel Marquis from wavering again.
But more importantly, the Red Circle inside Ferda’s Dantian was spinning rapidly.
He had no intention of letting Vernel ruin the excitement building inside him.
"I’ve decided... that you’re right. I should make weapons."
"So you’ve abandoned your convictions?"
"Not at all. I’ve simply realized, as you said, that making weapons can also preserve peace. I was only afraid of the criticism."
Looking down at the appointment letter in his hand, Vernel Marquis continued,
"I’ll create weapons to eliminate the Monsters in the Far East. But I sincerely hope those weapons will never be used in wars between humans. At least... not while I’m still alive."
"I can’t promise you that."
Rather than lying, Ferda chose to tell him the truth.
"I... see."
Vernel was disappointed, but not devastated.
Though he had been little more than a frog in a well, he still lived within society.
He understood how the world worked.
Whoever advanced weapon development first would determine the course of wars.
In such a world, Magitech Engineering would become revolutionary technology, accelerating the arms race.
"You don’t need to drown yourself in guilt. Think of it this way. If you forge a sword, what do people use to stop it?"
"If someone makes a sword... they create shields and armor to stop it."
"Then someone creates a sword capable of piercing even that armor and shield. Should you simply despair, stop, and watch destruction unfold?"
Only then did Vernel understand.
"No. We’d have to create even better armor and shields."
"You’ll be making weapons, but you’ll also be creating shields. If you truly wish to prevent war, then you must continue developing them. The moment you stop..."
"The enemy will move one step ahead."
An endless race.
A reality Vernel had never wanted to imagine unfolded before him.
The lingering fragrance remained in his nose.
Coffee.
Tea.
And ink.
He missed Escolleia dearly.
At least there, that tiny room had been his entire world.
But I can’t go back.
Bringing Magitech Engineering to fruition was the dream he wished to accomplish above all else.
"Of course, once we have the luxury to spare, I’ll allow you to research other applications as well. But our first priority is developing tools capable of pushing back the eastern front against the Monsters. Once you’ve accomplished that, I won’t interfere with whatever else you wish to do."
"Y-Yes, understood."
"That settles that..."
Ferda began discussing Vernel’s research in earnest.
"Tell me what you’ll need first."
"More than tools, I need Monster corpses."
"Monster corpses?"
"I need to observe them first. Tools come afterward."
Scratching the back of his head, Vernel laughed awkwardly.
"Honestly... if they were alive, the research would progress much faster... but capturing Monsters alive isn’t exactly easy. Hahaha..."
After quietly listening, Ferda nodded.
"I understand. So all we need to do is capture them alive?"
"Yes, capture them ali—... w-wait... you’re actually going to capture them?"
Vernel asked in shock.
"If doing so speeds up your research, shouldn’t we? We’ve still got a long road ahead of us. The first step should be a big one."
"It won’t be easy... but... thank you very much, Your Highness."
"Call me Regent. That’s my official title now. And there’s no need to thank me."
Ferda stood up and put on his coat.
"We’ll depart within three days. Make your preparations."
"Huh? Depart... where?"
"You say that after bringing it up yourself? We’re going to capture Monsters alive."
"W-We are?!"
Vernel’s eyes widened.
His pupils looked ready to shrink into tiny dots.
"Were you planning to sit here comfortably and wait until someone else captured them for you?"
"Uh... that’s usually... how it works..."
"What a ridiculous joke. How can I stand by and watch dozens of people die just to satisfy a scholar’s curiosity? In times like this, you move yourself."
Patting Vernel on the shoulder, Ferda continued,
"Isn’t it a scholar’s belief that truth sets humanity free?"
"Th-That’s true, but..."
"If you sit still expecting truth to fall into your mouth, you’ll never find it. Time to get your body moving."
"Ugh..."
"Prepare well until then. I need you in the best possible condition."
Vernel’s face turned deathly pale.
I-I shouldn’t have come!
There was no turning back now.
***
Ferda and Vernel rode on horseback toward their destination.
As they followed the road, they spotted a group waiting ahead.
Thirty subordinates stood in perfect formation.
At the front sat a man on horseback wearing half-plate armor.
He was the guide assigned to escort Ferda.
Arwen dismounted and respectfully bowed.
"I greet His Excellency Ferda Valdrova, Regent and husband of Grand Duchess Valdrova. My name is Arwen. I have been assigned to escort you under the orders of Count Consilus."
"A pleasure to meet you. Have you received your orders properly?"
"Yes, sir. I was informed that you would be hunting Monsters."
Ferda immediately corrected him.
"Not hunting. Capturing. We’re going to capture Monsters alive."
"My apologies. It seems I misunderstood the official dispatch."
In truth, Arwen had not misread the orders.
The instructions were simply so absurd that he had instinctively questioned them by correcting himself.
"It’s fine. Where is the Monster located?"
Arwen turned his head and pointed into the distance.
"We’ve received reports that a Monster’s unique aura is being emitted from over there."
"How many?"
"Judging from the area it has spread through recently, there appears to be only a single one."
"I see. Then capturing it alive should be easy."
"Well... about that..."
Arwen continued his report in a grave tone.
"We estimate the creature’s size to be larger than a grizzly bear. It’s large enough that even killing it would be difficult for us."
In other words, capturing it alive would be nearly impossible.
Naturally, such reasoning meant nothing to Ferda.
"The bigger it is, the better. We absolutely must capture it alive."
Ferda patted Vernel on the shoulder.
"It should be quite useful for your research."
"Haha... y-yes, I suppose so."
Vernel forced an awkward smile while screaming internally.
I told you not to mention that!!
His eyes cautiously drifted toward the soldiers.
Resentful stares immediately poured toward him from every direction.
So that bastard’s the culprit.
Killing a Monster is hard enough, and now he wants us to capture one alive?
If I die trying to catch it, I’ll haunt your dreams until the day you die!
The curses seemed to echo endlessly inside Vernel’s head.
"Hahaha..."
Vernel laughed.
He had to laugh while he still could.
***
Arwen took the lead and began moving forward.
Naturally, they left the horses behind.
They would only agitate the Monster.
"What level of magic have you reached?"
Walking behind Arwen, Ferda asked Vernel.
Vernel answered,
"The Third Circle is my limit."
"So you’re a Blue Circle Mage?"
"Yes. Naturally, any Mage would be in the Blue Circle... Wait... are you in the Red Circle?"
"I am."
Vernel quickly covered his mouth.
Damn this loose tongue.
"I-I’m terribly sorry! I spoke out of turn..."
"It doesn’t matter. So you’re at the Third Circle, then?"
The title given to a Third Circle Mage was Magic Walker.
Many Mages never managed to break through the wall of the Fourth Circle, so they hated being called Magic Walkers.
Especially by Fourth Circle Mages and above—being called a Magic Walker was practically the same as being challenged to a duel to the death.
"Can you use Mana Shot?"
"Yes. I can create the spheres and fire them, but the effective range—"
"As long as you can create them, that’s enough. How many can you make?"
"Uh... twelve."
"What if you make them larger?"
"If I increase their size, I can make four."
An average Third Circle Mage could use about fifteen Mana Shots.
"You’re well below the average for a normal Third Circle Mage."
"Haha... that’s true."
It was both painful and ironic.
Vernel’s first dream had been to become a Mage.
In the end, the only thing I ever became good at wasn’t magic... it was studying.
And even that had been ruined by chasing an impossible, unrealistic dream.
"That will be enough. All you need to do is support me."
"S-Support?"
"I’ll handle everything myself. You simply carry out a few simple tasks according to my instructions. Understood?"
"S-Support... I understand, but... how exactly?"
"It’ll be simple. Simple enough that even a three-year-old child could understand it. Don’t worry."
Vernel still had no idea what Ferda intended to do.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked,
"My apologies, Your Excellency the Regent... but what Circle are you?"
"Me? The Second Circle."
"The... Second Circle?"
"What? Are you surprised that I’m below you?"
"Well... yes, that’s surprising, but that’s not exactly what I meant..."
Vernel simply couldn’t understand.
So the Mana I saw was exactly what it looked like?
He had always assumed Ferda had been concealing his true strength.
But he was really only a Second Circle Mage.
What can someone at the Second Circle possibly accomplish...?
He couldn’t make sense of Ferda’s plan.
Just then, Arwen raised a hand.
"I’ve picked up the creature’s presence."
"Is that so? Good work. I’ll call for you just before we capture it. Wait here until then."
"...Excuse me?"
Thinking he had misheard, Arwen asked again.
Ferda frowned.
"Whoever drafted that official dispatch deserves a proper scolding. I specifically requested guides and soldiers who could assist with the capture. Unless... are you saying you want to capture it yourselves?"
"Shouldn’t we be the ones to do it? Naturally..."
"A commendable attitude for a Knight."
Patting Arwen on the shoulder, Ferda walked past him.
"Do not treat your life lightly. You are Count Consilus’s Knight, and beyond that, a precious Knight of the Grand Duchess’s domain."
Ferda slipped on the leather gloves he had kept in his pocket.
"Let’s go. Once I give the signal, be ready to capture it immediately. Vernel."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
With his hands clasped behind his back, Ferda leisurely walked forward.
His bearing was so composed that no one would have believed he was walking straight toward mortal danger.
I’m going to die! I’m really going to die!
To Vernel, however, Ferda looked like nothing more—and nothing less—than the Grim Reaper leading him to his death.
***
After walking through the Deep Forest for about ten minutes, Ferda and Vernel finally found the Monster they had been searching for.
It’s a Corrupted One.
Not a grotesque creature born naturally, but a type of Monster that possessed and transformed ordinary animals.
It had once been a bear.
Now, it had deteriorated to the point where it could only be described as something that used to be a bear.
A creature whose very existence seemed irrational.
Its appearance alone conveyed that impression.
"Urgh..."
"Don’t throw up. It’ll notice us."
"Ugh... ugh..."
Vernel repeatedly nodded while swallowing back his nausea.
Meanwhile, Ferda fixed his gaze on the target.
"Now, create Mana Shot spheres on your fingertips."
"Yes."
Suppressing his urge to vomit, Vernel formed pure spheres of Mana exactly as instructed.
"Now, according to my commands, lightly throw them at me one at a time."
"...What?"
At the Regent instead of the bear?
"You mean... throw them at you, Your Excellency?"
"That’s right. Throw them."
Closing his eyes tightly, Vernel obediently tossed one toward Ferda.
"Huh?"
At that very moment, something astonishing happened.
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