I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 12
Chapter 12Human memory is finite and unstable.
Yet, just as one does not forget to breathe, there is always something a person bound to remember.
In Ferda's case, it was the objects of his hatred.
Not just names, but a list of people he detested and sought revenge against—a hit list, so to speak.
He had delved into their achievements to fuel his hatred.
He had scrutinized their flaws to facilitate his revenge.
‘Thinking about it now, it was an incredibly absurd thing to do.’
Recalling the reasons he came to hate them, the list was riddled with delusions of persecution.
It was petty enough to make his face flush with embarrassment.
‘Regardless, now that I've returned to the past, it has become valuable information.’
Ferda knew precisely the strengths and weaknesses of those who would become giants in the future.
Talented individuals who made him wonder, ‘If they had done this instead, couldn't they have achieved even more?’
People who would have achieved greatness much sooner if they had turned their eyes to different talents.
‘There are many outstanding individuals.’
Many, far too many.
Recruiting all of them was realistically impossible.
The number of people he coveted exceeded a hundred, and he didn't expect all of them to get along and work together.
‘I must set priorities first.’
Now that he was the fiancé and regent of the Duke, Ferda considered what was necessary.
‘The entire Valdrova territory is currently in a state of neglect.’
The Duke did not step forward personally, leaving the lords to govern themselves. Since there was no one to oversee them, public sentiment had soured significantly.
‘I’ll have to look into the people's livelihoods.’
Ferda's task was set, but it was not as easy as making the decision. It was common for a ruler to face backlash or civil war when interfering with local lords.
‘That part has been resolved smoothly, so it doesn't matter.’
When Ferda sent the letters, he had naturally expected the top brass to resist.
Of course, that expectation was spectacularly wrong; Ferda received letters from the remaining fourteen lords swearing their loyalty.
‘It seems Ruri's threat to decapitate them and hang their heads on the castle gates worked perfectly.’
Since the lords realized they shouldn't underestimate Ferda, he decided to leave them be for now.
‘Internal affairs are settled to that extent, so now it's the external threats?’
The primary threats were the monsters and demonic beasts causing chaos.
The Duke's domain was located in the Far East, adjacent to the lands corrupted by the Demon King. The corruption was gradually spreading into this neighboring region as well.
‘One of the main causes is the demonic beasts.’
Demonic beasts, forged by demonic energy or corrupted, were the type of monsters found everywhere. They were occasionally seen even in the Central Region, so they were naturally more prevalent in the Far East, where the Demonic Land bordered.
‘The presence of demonic beasts corrupts the earth.’
The longer a demonic beast lingered, the faster the land's devastation accelerated. They were beings that prevented life from blooming and even corrupted existing creatures.
That was why requests to subjugate demonic beasts were always handled with the utmost urgency everywhere.
‘If I can reduce casualties and land corruption from those beasts...’
Naturally, the food supply would increase, and the people's livelihoods would recover. While Valdrova, the master of the house, blocked external threats, Ferda would take charge of the internal ones.
‘What's needed for that is technology, after all.’
The top priority was to provide means for not only well-trained soldiers but also civilians to effectively hunt demonic beasts. With that as his standard, Ferda pulled a name from his hit list.
In total, he narrowed it down to four individuals.
“Therefore, these individuals must be recruited as a top priority.”
Looking at the paper Ferda handed over, Ruri checked the names.
- Bernel Marquis
- Zed Swallow
- Echidna Philiaz
- Hellus Phobidas
Ruri frowned the moment she saw them.
“These are names of humans I've never heard of.”
“It's possible you wouldn't know them. They are people who haven't distinguished themselves yet.”
“I told you to recruit talent, not to call your neighborhood friends to play government.”
Ruri's gaze sharpened. Dragon Fear, tinged with Ruri's emotions, enveloped Ferda.
‘There definitely has been a change.’
After the engagement ceremony, the effect of Dragon Fear had certainly weakened. Still, it remained unpleasant. It would be stranger to feel nothing when a girl who looked about fourteen was glaring at him like that.
“Do I look like someone who would do such a thing?”
“It's because you don't look like that kind of person that I'm even more concerned.”
“You're speaking in contradictions.”
“Anyway, could you tell me about these humans? Except for Hellus Phobidas, the other three are people I've never even heard of.”
Hellus Phobidas was a mage known as the Sage of Water. It was publicly known that kings and lords cherished him for his incredibly wise advice.
“I guarantee you, the three above Hellus Phobidas are more important.”
“Then why don't you tell me?”
“This Bernel Marquis, whom we must visit first, lives in a city called Escoleia.”
Upon hearing the city's name, Ruri asked reflexively.
“Is he a scholar?”
“Yes.”
Escoleia was a city located in the mid-eastern part of the continent, known as the city of scholars. Since the only reason to go to a chicken coop was to look for chickens or eggs, Ruri could tell he was a scholar instantly.
“You know that scholars have titles, right?”
“I've heard they receive them when they graduate from the academy. What does that have to do with anything?”
“It matters. This fellow is the one who received the title ‘A Mess.’”
“Are you planning to turn our castle into a disaster? It's not a good choice to show your true colors the moment we get engaged.”
Since a scholar's title was something that dictated their life, the key was usually to avoid negative words. For someone to be openly called ‘A Mess’ meant that even those around him couldn't stand him.
“There's a reason he received such a title. It's because he tries things that others don't.”
“There must be a reason why other scholars don't try them, though?”
“Of course. But he is a man who tries them relentlessly.”
“Doesn't that just make him an idiot?”
“He is a man of conviction.”
“A stubborn idiot, then.”
He couldn't deny it. Ferda had thought he was an idiot when he first met him, too. The way he walked his own path, indifferent to the disapproval of those around him, was pathetic yet noble.
‘Such a stubborn idiot eventually succeeds.’
Even if everyone cursed him saying it wouldn't work, even if they criticized him for wasting time, the single path he had walked with such devotion would eventually shine. Back then, he always voiced this regret:
—If only I could have done more research, I would have been able to create so many more things by now.
It was only natural.
‘What fool would invest in something that cannot succeed?’
Even a noble with enough money to throw it into the air would be the same. No one would want to be the moron who supports an idiot with the title ‘A Mess.’ But Ferda knew this man.
“So, what exactly does this man research?”
In the future, he would be...
“The refining of Mana Stones and the processing of power sources using demonic beast corpses.”
The man who would become the pioneer opening the era of magical engineering.
* * *
In the center stood a single world tree reaching for the sky, called the Tree of Knowledge, surrounded by five Great Libraries. It was easy to think that sunlight wouldn't reach the area beneath the tree, but since the Tree of Knowledge grew no leaves, it was essentially no different from a giant pillar.
In the city beneath that pillar, instead of the typical smell of water or mustiness, the scent of coffee and black tea wafted thick enough to be stifling. Numerous people accustomed to that smell moved busily. They were moving in a way that turned every bit of space a single person could occupy into a circulation route.
Their destinations varied, but every one of them had three books tucked under their arm and a piece of freshly toasted bread in their mouth.
“There are so many people.”
“It's only natural, as it's a place where all the scholars and their employees gather.”
“I'm not sure I'd want to live in such a cramped place.”
“They say they search for a value greater than settling for the present.”
“I don't understand.”
“Neither do I.”
Ferda and Ruri glanced around the street. Just within their sight, hundreds of people were moving, bumping into one another. All were in black robes, and nine out of ten wore glasses.
“Are we going to find one person here?”
“That's right.”
“It will take over a month.”
In terms of difficulty, it was close to the highest level of a search. It would be a lie to say it wasn't daunting.
As it was a place where many people came and went, street vendors were also busy along the walls. They primarily sold finger foods that could be eaten easily. He noticed many people buying items in passing as they flowed along like a river.
‘The vendors might know.’
Ferda thought so and looked at Ruri.
“...”
Her gaze was quite different from usual. A businesslike, expressionless face. It was another expression of hers, one she hadn't shown except when she was angry. She was staring intently at a street vendor selling fruit preserves.
Her eyes were wide, and a silver light sparkled in her pupils. After watching for a long while, her slender throat bobbed up and down.
Gulp.
The series of actions she showed meant one thing.
“Do you want to eat that?”
“...What do you take me for?”
Ruri narrowed her eyes and grumbled. It was a more agitated reaction than usual.
“I simply thought that the vendor over there might know something.”
“I thought so too. It would be good to ask.”
Ferda headed toward the street vendor with Ruri. Ruri's eyes were fixed on the fruit preserves.
“Excuse me.”
“A young gentleman and a cute little maid lady. What can I get you?”
“I'm looking for someone. I hope you might know him.”
“A person? There are people everywhere here, people! There are tens of thousands of four-eyes here, and thousands of 'em buy honeyed fruit skewers from me, so how can I remember every single one?”
The vendor wore a strange smile filled with expectation. Ferda lowered his gaze to the fruit preserves behind the glass barrier.
“Do you think your memory might return if I buy some of those skewers?”
“Haha, I'd appreciate that! But let's hear the story first. Who are you looking for?”
“A scholar called ‘A Mess.’”
The vendor's eyes went wide.
“Ah, A Mess? Why didn't you say so sooner?”
“You know him?”
The vendor grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
“Over a hundred thousand people live in this city. But anyone who doesn't know where the man called ‘A Mess’ lives must be a spy. Grab anyone walking down the street and ask 'em. They'll all know.”
“Then I suppose there's no need to buy those fruit preserves?”
“...!”
Ruri, who had been listening to the conversation, suddenly flinched and trembled.
“Still, wouldn't it be better to show a little sincerity and buy some? From your appearance, you look like a lord with plenty of coin... Sometimes this kind of snacking is a joy, isn't it? I'll give you three skewers for five copper coins.”
“That's right. If someone has shown kindness, it's important to provide a fitting reward.”
Ruri slipped in and took the merchant's side. It was only proper to respond in kind when someone showed goodwill. Ferda agreed with that sentiment and purchased three honeyed fruit skewers.
“Eat up.”
He handed the sticky clumps of honey to Ruri.
“Aren't you going to eat, Ferda-nim?”
“I'm not a child.”
“Hah? I'm not a child either!”
“I know.”
“Then isn't it ridiculous that you're giving them all to me? You're treating me like a child, aren't you? Are you going to lie without even blinking?”
“So, you don't want to eat them?”
“...”
Though she had a very indignant look on her face, Ruri took the skewers Ferda was holding. As if she had been waiting, Ruri popped a honey-drenched fruit into her mouth. Her silver eyes sparkled even more brightly.
‘She was capable of making an expression like that.’
Ferda had wondered if Ruri was someone whose emotions had dried up like his own. But seeing her act like the child she appeared to be gave him a strange sense of relief. Ruri's cheeks, which she was stuffing with honeyed fruit preserves, became plump like a squirrel's in autumn. Aware of Ferda's gaze, she rolled her eyes.
Her silver eyes narrowed as she pulled the cup closer to her chest.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not giving you any.”
“I’m not eating.”
* * *
Every living creature has a rank, and where there are wealthy people, there are also poor people. Escoleia, built under the ideology that all are equal before knowledge, was no different. Escoleia had its wealthy districts, and at the same time, its slums.
And within those slums, there was a specific area where the absolute poorest lived. A place where sunlight didn't reach properly, and the stench of sewers and rat droppings was rampant. A place where the smell was so constant that one was afraid to even open a door. The place where Bernel Marquis lived was exactly such a place.
Ruri couldn't hide her astonishment as she looked at a window positioned lower than her own height.
“I'm amazed people manage to live in a place like this.”
“Humans can live in more places than you'd think. They can even sleep in a latrine.”
“Did you live like that in the Rosnova family?”
“It was more of a hell back then.”
It was during the time when he had no money, when all his funds had been extorted by a money-grubbing master. Ferda learned then that a person could sleep even in a restroom where the stench of feces and urine wafted up.
“Does it seem like he's inside?”
Ruri nodded at Ferda's question.
“I can sense a presence.”
Crash!
A chaotic sound echoed from beyond the window. Hearing that sound, she added a comment.
“And it seems like something is currently underway.”
“An early guest, then...”
Going in now meant becoming embroiled in trouble.
“It's the perfect time.”
Ferda placed his hands behind his back and headed down the stairs.
