I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 37
The eyes of the magic investigator, Yuren, turned toward Ferda.
Suspicion was etched within his pupils.
“I apologize to the Regent, but may I ask where you obtained this?”
Ferda replied.
“It was discovered in Count Consilus’s fief. It seems a guard caught a foreigner who was hiding their identity until the very end.”
“That heretical element…”
“Bit their tongue and died before they could be tortured. I had them burned immediately, fearing there might be magic triggered upon death.”
This was the reason he had burned the unclaimed corpse.
“You did well. That filthy lot of warlocks never die peacefully, even in death.”
The investigator clicked his tongue.
It was a sound of regret for not being able to investigate the demon followers further.
However, the handling of the situation had been perfect, so he could not find fault.
“Anyway, to think there is someone capable of handling Demon Language to this extent… It seems there are more dangerous individuals within the Empire than I thought.”
“Is it a serious matter?”
Olivia asked, and Yuren nodded.
“Yes. Judging by the level of understanding of the script, it is undoubtedly a warlock who has reached at least the 5th circle.”
“How significant is the 5th circle?”
“I am a 5th circle Master Mage myself, but a 5th circle warlock can practically be considered a 6th circle Archmage. They would be able to draw upon the mana of Hell and use it as their own power.”
“The 6th circle! You mean they are on par with the Grand Mage…!”
In fact, most of the warlocks who had made a name for themselves on the continent—both past and present—were indeed of the 5th circle.
It was common for them to pay a great price to obtain power that surpassed the 6th circle.
‘Like the Shadow Magic Book I intend to obtain.’
Lest his inner thoughts be discovered, Ferda quickly pushed that idea aside.
“If we do not move with swift resolution, the Empire will fall into great chaos.”
“That’s…!”
Olivia bit her lower lip, looking horrified.
“If they are a warlock of that level… it should be difficult for them to even enter the Empire. How is it possible for them to be inside?”
“That… I am not sure. No matter how good the security system is, it isn't perfect…”
The magic investigator also tilted his head repeatedly, as if finding it strange.
“Even so, a follower capable of such language should have been filtered out long ago…”
The Empire’s surveillance always focused on blocking major threats as its top priority.
Even if minor things couldn't be stopped, if a 5th circle warlock had entered, an emergency alarm would have surely sounded.
He couldn't fathom what the reason was.
It was only natural.
‘Because there’s no way a mage of that caliber would be in the Imperial Capital.’
A follower who could use Demon Language to this extent would think it wiser to live disguised in a village rather than staying in the capital.
Where did the Demon Language written on that paper come from?
It was none other than Mori.
The Library of All Things was contained within her mind, and that included a dictionary of the Demon Language.
She had simply translated and written it down as Ferda had instructed.
‘Though it is forged evidence…’
The Demon Language was real, and its content was real as well.
The warlocks were indeed lurking in the sewers.
And it was also certain that they were preparing an act of terrorism within the Empire.
* * *
The Empire’s underground sewers were vast.
The first Emperor had taken great care in constructing them to create an appearance befitting the name of a Great Human, and that was the underground sewer system.
The underground was even more complex than the city’s exterior.
However, construction often does not proceed as planned.
‘For example, things like underground reservoirs for flood prevention.’
When the costs became too high and the climate didn't seem prone to flooding, the construction would be halted.
In such cases, it was common to leave the excavated ground as is, simply building walls to cordone it off rather than filling it back in.
There were many such spaces within the Empire’s sewers.
The place Ferda knew was exactly such a location.
A place gradually being forgotten on the Empire’s maps.
And a place discovered by the rats driven into the shadows as they searched for a new home.
‘The gathering point for the dissidents congregating to terrorize the capital.’
While strikes against those who appeared in the light were frequent, it was rare to enter the sewers directly to strike as they were doing today.
The Knight Order and the Magic Unit surrounded the area, preparing for a surprise attack.
Everything had to be executed with swift resolution.
A single slip could lead to casualties, and the moment casualties occurred, it would turn into a messy brawl against the warlocks.
The Magic Unit was preparing Silence magic and Concentration Interference magic, while the knights moved to eliminate all the disrupted mages.
A worker moving along the wall suddenly stopped and pointed to a spot.
“It’s here. There is a space behind this wall that can be breached.”
“Good. Stand back. Howard.”
“Yes, sir!”
A massive knight wielding a war hammer stood before the wall.
Bulging muscles could be felt beneath the plate armor and chain mail.
He swung the war hammer with a great force.
“Hmph!”
Boom—!!
The wall crumbled down in a single blow.
“Kyaaa!”
“Wh-what!?”
“What is it? What’s happening?”
Panicked voices from inside were creating chaos.
And to that chaos, one must add even more chaos.
“In the name of the Light!”
“In the name of His Imperial Majesty!”
“Long live His Imperial Majesty!”
“O Light!”
The knights charged inside with a roar.
What followed were screams.
“Aaaargh!”
“Kyaaaa!”
Screams from both men and women.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of explosions echoed.
The clashing of steel and the sound of something being torn apart rang out.
Ferda waited outside, watching it all.
Though only the sounds of violent engagement could be heard, Ferda could tell who had won without even looking.
The lead assault commander came out first and reported to Yuren, the magic investigator, and the Knight Commander.
“Loyalty! No abnormalities in the Knight Order! We have executed 45 who resisted and captured 12.”
“Any escapees?”
“There is one! Judging by the fact they were standing on a podium, they seem to be the ringleader.”
“You fools! How could you let the one you must not miss escape!? The opponent was a mage who could have been at the 5th circle.”
“My apologies! However, they fled without taking any of their belongings, so they won't get far!”
“Fine. What belongings were there?”
“I have left them inside.”
While many knights were driven by greed, they still did not touch a warlock’s possessions recklessly.
Even if they were valuable, if a curse were attached, their own heads would roll.
“Is that so? Then it’s fine.”
The magic investigator smiled as if relieved.
“Well done.”
Ferda, who had only been watching, stood up from his seat.
“May I go in with you?”
“Of course. This way, please.”
As the Regent and the informant, he deserved to be treated with great respect.
Yuren cleared the way, and Ferda entered first.
The scene of the knights’ slaughter lay bare.
Ferda took in their appearances one by one.
‘There are warlocks, but the vast majority are just the poor.’
Tents made of tattered cloth, pots and spoons losing their shapes.
These were people who had sided with the warlocks because they couldn't even afford a single proper meal.
It was because the warlocks at least provided food.
‘There’s a reason for that, too.’
There is no soul more valuable than one who has found hope in the depths of despair.
They were all likely destined to become sacrifices.
Ferda walked past the corpses toward the ringleader’s room.
Befitting the leader of this underground reservoir, it was relatively well-decorated, and magic supplies were laid out.
“There is a seditious book here.”
Yuren said, looking at a book placed on the desk.
The cover, made of human scalp, looked as if it were screaming, trapped within the book.
He knew what it was as soon as he saw the cover.
‘It’s Gamigin’s Necromancy.’
Gamigin, the demon of immortality and legion.
This was an item for necromancers created by his magic.
In fact, the ringleader who possessed this book would reach the 5th circle and launch a full-scale rebellion against the Empire.
‘But they fail.’
Ferda recalled what they had done.
When they revolted, they piled corpses in the sewers, exploded them, and caused chaos.
Many people died, and they raised an army of the undead from those deaths to ravage the interior of the city.
While they were material that could have caused chaos in the Empire that needed to fall, Ferda did not view them favorably.
‘Above all, they are useless.’
Generating corpses through explosions is fine, but their strategy is far too complacent.
First, they vastly underestimated the strength of the knights.
Second, their target was a terrorist attack against the masses.
Because of that, hostility toward demon worshippers deepened, and solidarity grew stronger rather than chaos taking hold.
In other words, the hammer blow intended to break their unity ended up forging it even harder.
‘So it’s better that they are gone.’
If they cannot weaken the Empire, they are of no use.
Thus, he was removing the source of trouble in advance.
“Loyalty! What shall we do with the captured demon followers?”
They were all starving and their spirits were broken.
They all looked up at Yuren with eyes begging for mercy.
But Yuren looked down at them with eyes full of loathing.
“Take the rest into custody. You must escort them to the Imperial Palace Prison as if you were carrying a sacred vessel. We must clearly show the end of those who reject His Majesty’s Light and intoxicate themselves with black magic!”
“Loyalty!”
A merciless disposition.
The poor residents were startled and began to beg Yuren fervently.
“W-we did not serve the demons! We were just hungry!”
“Please, give us just one chance! Mercy in the name of the Light…!”
“Silence! How dare a heretic utter the name of the Light!?”
The one who said that was struck across the face.
“At least save my child! I beg of you, milord.”
A woman holding an infant pleaded.
Yuren knew well enough.
That these were not people who truly followed demons.
That they had made an unavoidable choice out of hunger.
“What are you doing!? Drag them out already!”
However, the subjects of the Empire are many, and there are more reasons to kill them than to let them live.
‘Lives like flies.’
Destined to be killed by knights if caught, and destined to be killed by warlocks if they remained.
There was nothing Ferda could do for those who had to be swept away by a great power.
The magic investigator smiled broadly as if he didn't care what happened to them.
In his hand was the necromancy book.
According to the protocol for handling black magic books, it was customary to wrap it in golden silk before transporting it.
But Yuren did not do that.
Instead, he was stroking the human skin and feeling its texture.
Then, suddenly feeling Ferda’s gaze, he cleared his throat and spoke.
“I must have looked like someone obsessed with black magic. Haha…”
“A bit, yes.”
“Haha, I’m embarrassed. I was just happy to be able to add a line to my record, which was lacking anyway.”
Realizing his slip-up, he completely covered the necromancy book with silk.
Then he offered his thanks to Ferda.
“Thanks to the Regent’s report, the subjects can sleep soundly tonight.”
“Not at all. I only did it for my own benefit.”
“Actions for the Empire are good actions, haha!”
His intention to gloss over it was apparent.
“So, is there nothing you can do for me?”
Ferda asked, adding weight to his words.
“You mean something I can do for you. Of course!”
If it were anyone else, he would have chased them away with a reward or threats, but the opponent was the Regent and the fiance of the Princess.
He needed to provide a reward commensurate with that status.
He thought for a moment, then remembered something and asked him.
“Come to think of it, you are also a mage, Regent?”
“I am.”
“Then shouldn't I take you to a place that is like an amusement park for mages?”
The magic investigator suggested this.
“How about visiting the Sealed Storage?”
The moment to finally take the first step in Ferda’s plan had arrived.
* * *
The Empire’s storage is located beneath the Imperial Palace.
Because one must pass through numerous guards and alarm spells, it is the most heavily guarded place on the continent.
Ferda would never have been able to set foot there if he hadn't been accompanied by Yuren, the magic investigator.
The storekeeper saw Yuren and offered a salute with a smile.
“Loyalty! Magic Investigator! You are working hard today as well.”
“You’re working hard every time too. I need to enter the Sealed Storage because of some confiscated items, so record it.”
“Understood. My apologies, but your companion is…?”
A young man with grey hair and blue eyes was standing beside him.
The young man said nothing, standing with his hands behind his back.
Yuren answered in his stead.
“Now, now, this gentleman is the fiance of the Princess of the Far East. Although he is the Regent, he is the person in charge of the Far East.”
“A-ah… Is that so?”
“So act accordingly. Understood?”
“Yes, of course. I will leave him out of the records.”
He closed the ledger without making any special entry.
“A young man full of flexibility.”
“Haha, of course. You can't survive in this field without flexibility. Besides…”
Yuren added with a smirk.
“It’s not like there’s anything bad about being flexible.”
A moment later, Ferda and Yuren moved to another room.
Placed before them was a stone gate and a crystal ball embedded in the center of the door.
“This is called the Orb of Truth. Are you familiar with it?”
“Is it not the item where a green light turns on only when answering questions truthfully?”
“That is correct. It is a valuable relic passed down from ancient times.”
The crystal ball recognized the person and began to glow blue.
Yuren walked over and placed his hand on it, as if accustomed to it.
As soon as he placed his hand, a voice echoed in the room.
—Do you swear that you do not follow demons and are not adhering to their resolve?
That heavy and dignified voice was like a god delivering judgment.
Yuren replied.
“I swear.”
—Do you swear that your visit to this storage is not motivated by personal desire?
“I swear.”
—Do you swear that you are loyal to the Empire?
“I swear.”
After the three questions ended, the mist inside swirled.
A moment later, the blue changed to green and lit up.
—Verified.
Yuren took his hand off and said to Ferda.
“Would you place your hand here?”
“Do I have to do it too?”
Ferda played dumb, even though he knew.
It was because that was more natural.
“Isn't that obvious? You cannot pass through this room without being verified by the Orb of Swearing. Perhaps…”
Yuren asked, narrowing his eyes.
That gaze was similar in nature to the one he had directed at the demon followers.
“Do you have something weighing on your conscience?”
Ferda shook his head.
“Since I am a man of much greed, I fear I might get caught on the second question.”
“Haha, there’s no need to worry. As long as you don't think something like ‘I must take something out of here.’”
They were still handling it in a crude but certain way.
‘I did that in the past, too.’
He had tried about three times, but Ferda had failed every time, the orb glowing red.
So in the end, he had broken it and gone inside.
Ferda was that kind of person.
He was full of personal desires and was not loyal to the Empire.
Even though he knew this well himself, Ferda boldly placed his hand on the Orb of Truth.
—Do you swear that you do not follow demons and are not adhering to their resolve?
The dignified voice tried to weigh down on Ferda.
