Chapter 69 - The Fuse

Ferda checked the bag he brought from the Demon research facility.

Inside were a research journal and a few ampoules.

It was in the exact same condition as when he had handed it to Zed.

'He sure gets the job done properly.'

He marveled to himself that recruiting Zed Swallow had been a solid move.

What Ferda could do for him was provide a bonus to slip into his hands.

'And Emilia's whereabouts.'

He had to do something about it before he voiced any complaints.

That was the condition to tie down the phantom thief who couldn't be tied down.

He would have to do something about it before he revealed his dissatisfaction.

'I'll just keep it in mind for now...'

Ferda took the bag and carried it to his study.

There, a young girl was always waiting for his orders.

"Mori."

Mori turned her head and looked up.

With voluminous curls in her hair, she looked every bit like a noble lady again today.

"Could you decrypt this for me?"

Ferda handed the journal to Mori.

Linne's journal was written in a cipher.

Using Mori's Library of All Things ability, the contents of the cipher could be easily decrypted.

"-Decryption is impossible."

However, what returned was a declaration of impossibility.

"What do you mean, impossible?"

"-It is a script without any clues that I can interpret."

A script without clues in the Library of All Things.

That meant only one thing.

"So it means it's an oral script."

A script passed down only by mouth, not recorded, with its meanings entirely set differently for each individual.

There was only one race that possessed such a script.

'High Elves.'

The race that was the nobility among nobility, capable of entering the depths of the World Tree.

Each individual constructed their own independent language, possessing a hellish difficulty that no one but themselves could interpret.

It was possible if Director Linne was a high elf.

'You're saying that dark elf was originally a high elf?'

It was a peculiar thing.

To think that a high elf—the most conservative and closed-off race that thought only for the World Tree—would swear loyalty to Godwin and become corrupted.

It was like a headless chicken going for a stroll, or a catfish out of water taking a breath.

"Then are there any records on high elves?"

"-There are a few observational records in existence."

"Anything related to their scripts?"

"-None."

It was a shame to end it like this.

"Is there any way you could try to interpret it?"

Mori nodded her head.

And then she quietly stared into the empty air.

CREAK, CREAK.

Her body bent unnaturally like a marionette doll.

Her face flushed bright red, trembling as if it would explode at any moment.

"I'll cancel the order."

PSSSH.

She returned to normal as if she had been deflated.

As much as he wanted to know the script, he had no intention of going so far as to break Mori to do it.

Mori wore a languid expression and looked up at Ferda with her head drooped over her shoulder.

"Is the work manageable?"

Mori nodded her head.

"-There are currently no major issues regarding matters within the castle and the Grand Duchy's territory. However, there are external problems."

"What kind of problems?"

"-The first is Hellus Phobidas."

The man he had strung along by using the Purge Squad.

Because Ferda had lent him Mori's wisdom in exchange for swearing loyalty to him, he was maintaining his life as a sage.

"What about him?"

"-Hellus Phobidas asks many inefficient questions. Sometimes they are logically inconsistent, and he frequently demands narratives of fantastical stories."

Conversations without answers are always exhausting.

Recalling just now when Mori squeezed her brain trying to force a decryption, he could tell just how inefficient Hellus's actions were.

"So you're saying it's hindering your work. And?"

"-He has shown hints of attempting to usurp Grand Duchess Valdrova's authority 8 times."

It was an even less surprising story than the inefficient questions.

Hellus had decided to use her, not even considering that Mori would say such things to Ferda.

"I will restrict him to 5 questions from now on. And if you preemptively judge that a conclusion cannot be reached, you may refuse to answer. Will that bring your efficiency up a bit?"

"-I project that efficiency will increase, but one more factor remains."

"What is it?"

"-It is Echidna Philiaz."

It would be a lie to say he didn't know.

He had seen Mori's eyes roll back in exasperation at her several times.

"If Echidna's behavior is causing problems, I can limit it a little, but I can't completely control her."

"-The impact Echidna Philiaz has caused is 3 times that of Hellus Phobidas. She occasionally demands to be called by incomprehensible titles."

"What kind of titles?"

"-Titles unsuitable for our relationship, ranging from 'unnie' to 'mom', 'mother', and 'royal mother'."

From Ferda's perspective, it was an easy demand.

"Can't you just grant that demand?"

"-If I accept that demand, she subsequently demands roleplay. If I accept the roleplay demand, she becomes immersed in it and starts accepting it as reality. Her delusional disorder deepens."

That was why it was 3 times as hard.

'Because she's a witch.'

Even while understanding Mori's position, Ferda pondered.

Echidna was the only one suitable to be put in charge of looking after Mori, and more than anything, she had been seeing red lately because of Zed's matter.

"Just tolerate her for the time being. We need that witch as well. Aside from that, is there no other way to bring out your efficiency?"

Mori thought.

She tapped the paper lightly with her pen and answered briefly.

"-Please praise me."

"What?"

"-Please praise me when I accomplish something. I require praise corresponding to the difficulty of the task."

It was a truly unexpected demand.

To think the word 'praise' would come from the pen of the Slave Sage who held the Library of All Things in her head.

"Is that something necessary?"

"-Papers are consistently published stating that praise increases work efficiency and is excellent for stress reduction."

"Isn't that just for humans?"

"-In Colossenia, the city of gladiators, the win rate of praised gladiators is 20% higher."

"I don't think it's necessary for you, though?"

"-It has been announced that miners who heard praise in Ophiles, the mining city, have 12% higher performance."

She rattled off facts one after another as if completely denying Ferda's words.

It was a peculiar thing.

Mori was a Slave Sage without an ego.

She was the ultimate rational entity that didn't even feel emotions, so why would she need such a thing?

Ferda decided not to squabble any longer.

It was better to say a couple of words than to waste time on such a useless debate.

"Thank you."

This should be enough.

At that, Mori's pen scribbled out letters.

"-According to research, I have heard that when an adult male praises a child, patting their head is effective."

'What a pain in the ass.'

Even so, Ferda placed his hand on her head, just as she said.

A smooth texture touched his hand.

"Thank you."

A praise thrown out indifferently.

However, a strange light shone as she looked up at Ferda.

Mori, who had been unable to hold her head up, returned to normal.

"Is that enough?"

Hearing his answer, Mori nodded her head and turned away.

He didn't know if that really did the trick.

Ferda folded up the journal and took out the box.

'This is where she took out the medicine.'

Inside the box were 11 ampoules.

It contained 3 Doppler reagents and 8 ampoules labeled with the names of each Knight-class Demon and the word '(Prototype)'.

They all shared the common trait of being a viscous black liquid, so without the labels, he wouldn't have been able to tell them apart.

'Including the Bouncer medicine, it must have been 12 in total.'

Ferda recalled the guy who had mutated into a Bouncer.

The Bouncer was a type that traded intelligence for immense strength.

His intelligence had definitely dropped, and his strength had definitely grown greater.

'If the exact same situation arises next time, they will be even stronger than that guy.'

The only reason they were able to win was that the medicine was just a prototype.

In the finished product, the side effects would be mitigated, and the power would be amplified.

'That woman definitely made it back alive.'

Before Director Linne could do anything, Ferda's side had to respond quickly.

Ferda had the samples, and Director Linne had the knowledge.

The starting line was good, but no one knew who would win in the end.

'Who should I assign to research this substance?'

The difficulty started there.

Ferda thought of his talented personnel.

Burnel?

He was smart, but his specialty was magical engineering.

He needed to focus solely on that.

Then Echidna?

She was well-versed in runes, but he didn't want to make her lay her hands on a substance like this.

Chancellor Bernard?

He didn't even know what that man was doing, so he couldn't trust him yet.

'Then do I have to do it?'

Ferda also had experience conducting various research.

It was limited to the training and forms of mana cultivation methods for getting stronger, but his tenacity was more than enough.

If he applied that tenacity to research, wouldn't it be fine?

It was while Ferda was deliberating.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

An alarm bell, the likes of which he had never heard inside the castle, rang out.

It was a bizarre thing.

To think an alarm bell warning of danger would ring in the main base of a Red Dragon, Valdrova.

A moment later, someone threw the door open and burst inside.

It was Luri.

She wore a face fraught with urgency.

"Sir Ferda."

"What is it?"

"They are coming."

Luri spoke again.

"The descendants of Silverwind are heading towards this place."

Had what was meant to come finally arrived?

Ferda headed to the balcony.

Dots visible in the sky.

Soon, distinct features that even Ferda's eyesight could recognize began to come into view.

At the lead were wings of an overwhelmingly massive size.

"That must be the leader."

"Yes. It is Goz."

The commander coming in person meant it was a grave matter.

Whatever it was, it was a situation where they had to take a stance.

"What should we do?"

Fear could be felt in Luri's voice.

Luri usually hid it well, but in this moment, her anxiety was palpable.

"We wait for now."

"Even with the enemy coming?"

"We'll know soon enough if they're enemies or not."

Ferda stared at the dots heading closer.

The fist he had unconsciously clenched was drenched in sweat.

'Sitri.'

Did that bitch of a Demon stab him in the back?

She could have very subtly distorted the information to make them mistakenly believe it was Ferda's fault.

However, he did not jump to conclusions.

Demons also know their own lives are important.

It was only because the Demons who crossed over to this world acted like fearless lunatics; in reality, Demons were even more cowardly than humans.

A moment later, the result of Ferda's judgment appeared.

The descendants of Silverwind all landed and lined up in front of the outer gate.

"That's good news."

"Them being in front of the outer gate is good news?"

"If they came to fight, they would have charged at the balcony, and if they came to pick a fight, they would have come to the inner castle gate."

Looking down below the balcony, Ferda made eye contact with Goz.

A strange exchange of glances passed between them.

"Luri, prepare to welcome our guests... Hmm?"

Ferda's words were cut off as he turned his head.

Luri was looking down towards the Silverwinds.

If she was simply looking down, Ferda would have no reason to react like that.

"Luri?"

"Did you call for me?"

"Why are you clutching my clothes?"

"What do you—"

Luri's words trailed off.

Just as Ferda said, she was grabbing onto his clothes.

A face surprised by her own actions.

She quickly withdrew her hand and awkwardly glossed over it, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

"... There was some dust on it."

"Is that so?"

There was no way there was dust on Ferda's clothes.

Much less reason for her to pick it off herself even if there was.

"I will go prepare to welcome the guests."

Luri retreated just like that.

Ferda also went down to welcome the Silverwinds.

* * *

The alarm rang out.

The non-combat personnel within the castle hid in their rooms, and the combat personnel were deployed.

And in Valdrova Castle, there were exactly two combat personnel.

Zed and Malcolm.

Because they held the status of knights, they were deployed in front of the outer castle gate.

'Fuck, what kind of bullshit situation is this?'

Zed spat out curses internally and scanned his eyes over them one more time.

They were the textbook definition of Silver Dragon spawns.

Silver hair and silver eyes.

Fierce faces and sharply rising horns.

They wore armor, yet the muscles bulging on their bodies looked ready to burst right through.

Facing even one of them would be nerve-wracking, yet they had swarmed here in a horde.

Not even the ring that suppressed the fear of dragons could dare to overcome the pressure of their numbers or their fierce impressions.

'Especially that guy.'

That man standing in the front with the soldiers positioned behind him.

Wearing a silver cape, anyone could tell at a glance that he was the commander.

It wouldn't be strange to say that that man alone accounted for eighty percent of this tension.

That was how vicious the aura he was exuding was.

"Your master..."

He opened his mouth.

"When are they showing up?"

What burst from his lips felt like an icy death, akin to the soul earned from slaughtering thousands of frost giants.

He was almost overwhelmed by the deep baritone, but he struggled to keep a calm face as he answered.

"Could you wait just a moment? He said he would be down shortly, so he will be here."

"Just a moment, huh..."

A face showing clear displeasure.

Even knowing that his hatred wasn't directed at them, it wasn't easy.

However, the most troubling thing of all was that Zed had another variable to deal with.

"Hic, huuuhk!"

Despite supposedly being a knight, Malcolm was standing next to him, sniffling.

"Almighty God of Light, Altes, please save me."

It wasn't enough that he was crying; he was also sitting there praying to a god.

Zed tilted his head slightly toward him and said.

"You just leave."

"Hic, as a knight of this Grand Duchy's territory, I cannot lift my feet..."

"No, I'm telling you to leave because you're in the way. I can handle it alone."

Despite Zed's suggestion, Malcolm did not leave.

Just how incredible that damned chivalry of his was, he stubbornly held his ground, forcing his trembling legs to straighten.

'Ugh, my fucking life.'

Whenever he thought things were finally getting quiet, something would come along and hit him hard in the back of the head like this.

Should he just quit being a knight and everything else?

Just as he was having those thoughts, he heard the footsteps of salvation from behind them.

"I've kept you waiting."

Ferda had arrived.

He stepped out between Zed and Malcolm, looking Goz straight in the eye.

"Do you make your guests wait?"

A reprimand he threw out.

"Normally, 'guests' send something called a letter before they arrive. Those who don't are called uninvited guests."

A tense war of nerves.

Malcolm and Zed, who had thought it was over, realized that this was only the beginning.

"I acknowledge that point. I apologize for not notifying you in advance."

He agreed easily.

Ferda thought.

'He shouldn't be the type to do this.'

"But as much as I apologize, you must also be clear."

As expected.

If there was a reason he backed down, it was to take three steps forward.

"Regent Ferda, we have come here because suspicions were raised that you borrowed the magic of a Demon to murder Abel Silverwind and conceal the evidence."

At the mention of suspicions being raised, a name reflexively popped into his head.

'Sitri?'

His animalistic reflexes screamed that name once again.

The most likely candidate was, of course, Sitri.

Not wrapping things up neatly was a characteristic of Demons.

Ferda kept thinking about what kind of bullshit she was trying to pull on him.

However, to his surprise, he realized the fact that Sitri had no intention of fucking him over.

The reason revealed itself soon enough.

"Hello, Regent Ferda?"

A lively voice amidst the sweaty men.

The sight of a petite woman wearing a broad-brimmed wizard's hat.

The badge of the Serdes Humanity Magical Society was prominently pinned to her pointed hat.

There was only one person who could wear a hat like that.

The Chairman of the Serdes Humanity Magical Society, Erdes Roton.

"We've met before, haven't we?"

This whole setup was that bitch's handiwork.