Chapter 102
Sitting in Seiza
After finishing his conversation with the armored knight, Ferda was visited by Erika.
Her facial features were familiar to him, but several crucial details were different.
She had no horns, tail, or wings, taking on the appearance of a complete human.
Officially, this was a visit from Eri, the platinum-ranked adventurer.
“Has your condition improved?”
“Yes. The seizure has subsided, and I have recovered enough to use a small amount of mana again.”
For a human, the damage would have required nearly three years of mana cultivation to recover from.
Yet she had healed in only three hours.
True to dragons who devoted their entire lives to the study of magic, even severe internal injuries healed with the speed of minor wounds.
“I heard that not many adventurers participated in this incident.”
Erika was the first to bring up the uncomfortable subject.
“Yes. So it seems.”
“Do not worry. We are currently compiling a list of those worthless bastards and revoking their qualifications.”
Her formal tone mixed seamlessly with crude insults.
And what was there to worry about?
If he had never expected anything from them in the first place, there was no reason to feel betrayed.
Those who grew greedy over securing the best opportunities were always like that.
Still, this village was built to accommodate adventurers, yet all it seems to attract are insects.
Would there be any point in building it like this?
Revoking their qualifications was one matter, but they still needed countermeasures of their own.
“We will handle the response somehow. Regent, all we need is permission to use your name.”
“Would my name truly be of any help?”
“With both the Tower Master of Blue Eyes and Valdrova’s consort involved, we should at least be able to remove the current association chairman.”
How could an ordinary human possibly withstand the influence of two dragons?
This was too serious a matter to be resolved even through connections.
“Talking about this will only make me curse, so let us leave it there. There is something else we need to face right now.”
Erika was referring to only one thing.
“You mean the Crooked Demon.”
“Yes. The bastard who had never shown himself, so naturally we assumed he was dead.”
The Crooked Demon.
He was one of Godwin’s Seven Malevolent Stars, the seven closest subordinates officially recognized by the Demon King and calamity-like beings who had once wielded the deepest influence across the continent.
Of the seven, the Crooked Demon had always been the most underestimated.
The circumstances made that inevitable.
He had lost his life to the kitchen knife of a newly awakened hero, leaving behind too little information for an objective evaluation.
That death had awakened the demons to the danger of humanity and driven them to make every possible effort to prevent the birth of more heroes.
“I never imagined the Crooked Demon could be this strong.”
“Was he strong even compared to the other six Malevolent Stars?”
“He was not on a level that could even be compared. At least, based on what I felt just now…”
He might even rival the Demon King.
But she did not say that aloud.
Erika herself was not certain.
She feared that judgment might merely be an excuse born from the terror and humiliation of her defeat.
Ferda also recalled the appearance of the Crooked Demon he had seen with his own eyes.
His entire body had been concealed beneath a robe.
Within it was a slender frame similar to Ferda’s own and a pair of red eyes.
White hands.
Every demon Ferda knew possessed black skin.
“Are nobles among the demons white-skinned?”
“No. Even the Demon King had black skin, and the same was true of his other subordinates.”
“The Crooked Demon was different.”
“Yes. He was. I had been wondering about that as well.”
Ferda remembered clearly, and so did Erika.
The fingers extended beyond the robe had unmistakably been white.
“That may be one of the reasons he became so powerful. If he repeatedly altered and corrupted himself using the power Godwin left behind, maximizing his own strength…”
“It is possible.”
The truth remained unknown, but Ferda agreed with her to some extent.
Had not the dark elf Rinne also been developing a drug capable of producing knight-class demons in an instant?
They learned from the past and prepared to advance into the future.
Given the opportunity, they would not hesitate.
They intended to ensure that humanity would never again be left with a next time.
“I do not understand why such beings would interfere with Hestia Village. It does not seem as though they simply wanted to destroy it because it was an eyesore…”
The Crooked Demon had sent fifteen wolf monsters into the village.
Yet the number of monsters he unleashed to facilitate his escape had been four times that amount.
Had he sent that many into the village from the beginning, at least dozens would have died and hundreds would have been injured.
The half-hearted assault had likely been a test.
But what had he been testing?
It was difficult for them to understand why demons, who desired only absolute destruction, would probe cautiously instead.
“You should build a wall first.”
Erika offered the suggestion.
“Do you believe the demons will return?”
“Judging from their methods, they probably will not. But the people living here will think differently.”
“That is a fair point.”
They now had to view the situation through the eyes of the public rather than those of their leaders.
Whatever the intent behind it, the incident had happened, and there had been casualties.
The corpse lying in the road could easily have been one of them.
A seed of anxiety had been planted in their minds.
If they remained in this city, that might someday become their fate.
Before the winter ended.
Perhaps tomorrow.
No, perhaps even tonight.
Even if it was merely for appearances, it would be better to show that they were being protected.
They are always saying we lack manpower…
If they began constructing a wall, manpower allocated to the city plan would inevitably be reduced.
The development of infrastructure would naturally slow as well.
It would become a troublesome variable for Isabella, who was overseeing the city plan.
“Let us leave the city issue there. Shall we discuss the item I brought?”
Erika removed something from her pocket and placed it on the table.
It was an amulet set with an orange gemstone.
“It is an anti-demonic talisman.”
It was an item based on the concept she had mentioned before their alliance.
Ferda had heard that it was still in the research stage, so its completion felt surprisingly fast.
“We will need to test how much demonic energy it can block in the Demon Lands, but according to our projections, it should shield the wearer from ninety-five percent of the energy attempting to penetrate them.”
“So the remaining five percent still enters.”
“Even that is a remarkable achievement if we use the inner Demon Lands as the standard. It allows humans to set foot, however briefly, in a place they were never meant to enter.”
“How long could someone endure it?”
“If they accept significant risk, four days. Within a safe range, approximately one day.”
One day.
“Would they not also require time to detoxify after exposure to demonic energy?”
“Our Blue Eyes scholars recommend roughly fifteen days of rest.”
“So they would work for one day and rest for fifteen.”
“Yes. Far too long.”
Adventuring naturally required a longer period of preparation than the expedition itself, but fifteen days was excessive.
Since they would be exploring previously unentered territory, producing meaningful results would be difficult.
More than anything, too much idle time was a flaw.
Thinking too deeply is poison during an adventure.
When one needed to accept danger, there could be no room for excessive thought.
The more one thought, the more naturally fear arose.
Fear led to depression.
Depression was a deadly poison that ended an adventurer’s life.
“Adventuring is not a profession judged purely by efficiency, but even with that in mind, this is poor. If we could reduce the rest period to around a week, that would be ideal…”
“A week…”
Was there a way to solve it?
Ferda considered the problem, then quickly stopped.
This was not something his abilities could resolve.
So he answered,
“I will instruct Burnell to look into it.”
“You mean that genius scholar? The one who recently distinguished himself in Halim?”
Erika asked with an expectant expression.
It was the first time Ferda had seen her react with such anticipation upon hearing a human’s name.
“Do you believe he can solve it?”
“He will.”
Ferda had no idea how Burnell would do so, but Erika raised no objection.
If he is one of Regent Ferda’s people, perhaps he truly can.
Ferda’s resourcefulness ranked among the finest she had seen, not only among humans of his generation, but among all humans she had ever encountered.
At times, she feared that attempting to look into his mind would only expose the shallowness of her own thinking.
Erika assumed Ferda possessed some wisdom unique to him that she simply could not comprehend.
In truth, Ferda had no suitable plan either.
He merely thought,
Burnell will figure something out.
Ferda still had no understanding of how magitech worked.
Even the assistants working directly beneath Burnell understood only a handful of its principles, so how could Ferda possibly comprehend it?
The honest answer in his mind was that he had no idea whether Burnell could truly solve the problem.
Still, Burnell was a genius of magitech.
Surely he would produce some sort of answer.
The only person who would be worked to the bone by that vague confidence was Burnell.
Late that night, after all official business had concluded,
Luri descended into Valdrova’s lair.
As usual, she carried a summarized report on the current political situation.
However, her expression was not the same as usual.
She looked like someone on her way to confront a prisoner locked away in a dungeon.
“Master, it is Luri. I am coming in.”
She entered Valdrova’s lair through the small door built into the side.
“Master, what I have to report today is—”
Luri’s words came to an abrupt halt.
The great red-scaled presence that usually occupied the enormous dragon’s lair was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a small woman sat on her knees with her armor removed.
“Why are you sitting in seiza?”
Luri looked down at her and asked in disbelief.
“Well…”
Valdrova answered in a flustered voice.
“Because you’re going to be angry with me…?”
“I am not angry.”
“Really?”
“I am merely… a little disappointed.”
Valdrova lowered her head deeply and fidgeted with her fingers.
Those words hurt even more than anger would have.
“But, Luri…”
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
“…It was impossible not to notice from your behavior, Lady Valdrova. Your mannerisms also reminded me of the armor’s functions.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Perhaps, and perhaps not. Lord Ferda still has not realized, has he?”
“I see.”
Valdrova let out a sigh of relief.
At the sight, Luri’s expression grew slightly fierce.
“It is too early to feel relieved.”
Luri took something out and showed it to her.
She opened Rumors of Calamity.
“I searched through the records. It appears you have been working under the name ‘Armored Knight.’”
“Y-Yes…”
“And you have already been working here for several months.”
“That’s right…”
Valdrova’s shoulders sank heavily.
“A vow of silence. How ingenious. Had you spoken, Lord Ferda would have recognized you immediately.”
“That happened unintentionally as I went along…”
“I assumed as much. There is no possibility that you planned this so meticulously.”
Luri sighed.
“Is what you are doing a form of amusement while disguised as a human?”
“It isn’t amusement. I-I’m helping humans.”
“…”
True.
This could not even be called a dragon’s amusement.
A dragon’s amusement usually referred to acts that ordinary humans could never hope to accomplish.
Its primary purpose was to leave behind some magnificent achievement or infamous legend before disappearing, so that later generations would marvel at the greatness of dragons.
That was what it was supposed to be.
What kind of dragon disguised herself as a human just to work as a laborer carrying materials at a construction site?
It was neither a great achievement nor a respectable diversion.
It was something that would make her a laughingstock.
As a dragon’s servant, Luri did not approve.
She wanted Valdrova to treat her strength and reputation with greater care.
“But still…”
Unaware of Luri’s thoughts, Valdrova smiled brightly and held something out.
“I worked hard and saved this much money.”
She proudly displayed a small pouch.
Inside were a mixture of copper and silver coins.
Luri felt her emotions beginning to boil.
She could earn more than that simply by kicking some random object out of the treasury and dragging it outside.
She disliked seeing Valdrova so proud of such a trivial sum.
This deserved anger.
“Does it make you happy?”
“Yes. It does.”
“What exactly makes you so happy?”
“It made me realize that I can create something without breaking it.”
“…”
At those words, Luri’s anger faded with astonishing speed.
Luri knew.
Behind the self-loathing Valdrova casually voiced with such an innocent smile lay an immeasurable abyss.
Only Luri had looked deeply enough into her heart to understand it.
That was why she alone could scold Valdrova—and pity her.
Her joy did not last long.
Valdrova’s head slowly drooped toward the floor.
“But… I still ended up breaking things again. Is that the only thing I’m capable of?”
Valdrova scratched her cheek and smiled weakly.
“Of course not. You are the embodiment of power, Lady Valdrova. You are capable of far greater things.”
Luri wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Valdrova rested her head lightly against her.
“But the people were afraid of me. Because I broke everything again…”
“They were merely overwhelmed by the situation. You know how foolish humans are. They may fear what is directly before them, but once they reflect upon it, they will soon recognize your deeds and praise you.”
Valdrova raised her head and looked at Luri.
Her golden eyes glistened with moisture.
“Do you think so?”
“Why not confirm it with your own eyes? While wearing that armor.”
Valdrova’s eyes widened at Luri’s words.
“Am I… allowed to keep doing that work?”
“You may.”
“Even though you dislike it?”
“How could a mere servant like me stand in the way of my master’s will?”
Now that matters had reached this point, Luri could not bring herself to stop her.
If this insignificant pastime can soothe her heart even slightly and help heal her wounds…
How could Luri condemn it as foolish and order her to quit?
Even if it was beneath the dignity of a dragon, she would gladly endure it if it allowed Valdrova to be a little happier.
“Then, in that case…”
Valdrova looked excited as she made one more request.
“Could I also become Mr. Ferda’s knight?”
Luri immediately felt the limits of her patience.
“…Why do you want to do that?”
“Because… then I’d be able to see Mr. Ferda more often?”
She fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke.
“You already see him often.”
“O-Of course I see him often. I do, but…”
Valdrova scratched her cheek.
“He looked a little… different from usual. It was rather handsome.”
“…Handsome?”
“Mr. Ferda always treats me so kindly, so I thought he was simply a kind person all the time. But…”
“But…?”
“When he treated me a little coldly, it felt as though we had become strangers, and perhaps because of that…”
Valdrova’s face turned red.
Her expression was that of a lovestruck woman.
“I suppose it made my heart flutter?”
“…”
The calm that had returned to Luri’s heart was instantly consumed by flames.
A fierce light called responsibility burned in her eyes.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“Sit in seiza.”
“Y-Yes? Why?”
“I am about to begin a lecture.”
Luri opened Rumors of Calamity in earnest, and the color drained from Valdrova’s face.
She soon had tears welling in her eyes from the torment, but even those tears merely became material for another lecture.
***
Following Luri’s advice, Valdrova returned to Hestia Village.
She wore the same armor and carried herself in the same manner.
She made no attempt to hide that she was the Armored Knight.
They’re looking at me.
She could feel their gazes distinctly.
She could also hear them whispering.
—The monster is back.
—That murderous monster has returned—
—Aaaah!
Hallucinated voices born from their gazes clung to her and tormented her.
Should I just go back?
The two legs that had never faltered under any attack now trembled beneath the weight of her fragile heart.
“Sir Knight.”
The fog lifted, and she returned to reality.
A young girl had boldly approached and stopped before her.
She was the small child who had been captured by those vicious adventurers.
The child who had nearly been devoured by a monster.
And—
The child who had once looked at Valdrova as though she were a monster.
“Th…”
The girl struggled to speak as she held something out.
“Thank you for saving me.”
It was a flower.
A common wildflower so ordinary that one might kick it aside while walking through the forest.
Yet Valdrova accepted it as though it were more precious than anything in the world.
The girl’s gap-toothed smile was incomparably beautiful.