I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 72
An uncomfortable silence filled the air.
Ferda was pressing his index finger firmly against his forehead.
‘I understand.’
Badmouthing was natural.
Talking behind someone’s back was a way to feel a sense of belonging to a group.
You can do it, but getting caught is a different matter entirely.
Especially when it’s your beloved fiancé you’re badmouthing.
However, Ferda did not feel indignant.
Instead, he grew calm.
Was it because he had already been so incensed by the matter with Erdes, or did he simply have no intention of making an issue out of the past?
For now, he decided to ask what he was curious about.
“I have a question.”
“……Please, go ahead.”
“Do other dragons think of my fiancé this way as well?”
“……Please just consider it a case of dragons generally not getting along with one another.”
“No, I simply need the objective facts. If you intend to help, please speak without filtering.”
Ferda spoke seriously.
Erica had no way of knowing if that serious gaze stemmed from anger or a desire for inquiry.
However, she gave him the answer he wanted.
“Yes. Looking at her past actions, one can’t help but say such things.”
“…….”
“It is the same even at this very moment. Wanting to take a human as a partner and marry? It is a story so absurd it doesn’t even qualify as a joke.”
The status of her power, yet the status of being unable to use that power.
Hearing that contradiction, it was indeed absurd.
Valdrova was a being composed entirely of contradictions.
“Setting aside emotional talk.”
Since dwelling on the past was unproductive, he decided to talk about the present.
“What are the benefits of forming an alliance with Iorga?”
“We can lend our strength to the Far East subjugation that you, Regent Ferda, will be undertaking.”
“With you all?”
“We have been conducting research on the Far East for a long time.”
Pride was evident in Erica’s tone.
As was the arrogance characteristic of a dragon spawn.
“The reason the Far East cannot be conquered is because of the demonic energy present there.”
It was a story Ferda already knew.
The junk mana rising from the Demonic Land collapses the mind and body.
“To set foot in the Far East, one required the protection of all the gods and every manner of magic. Because of that, only a tiny elite group—the Hero’s party—could enter the Far East.”
The twelve Heroes.
High priests serving each god and all the dragons protected them by chanting spells of protection.
Among those twelve members of the expedition were the dragon spawn Erica Iorga and Erdes Roton.
“While we have been researching Project Hestia, it is only recently that we have achieved a meaningful result.”
A meaningful result.
At those words, Ferda felt a slight surge of excitement.
“What is it?”
“It is what we call Demon Resistance.”
Demon Resistance.
It wasn’t a bad name.
Seeing as this term wasn’t in Ferda’s mind, he suspected it might be a strategic weapon hidden away by Iorga.
“Can it be used for treatment?”
“No. It is not a solution that solves the fundamental problem of being eroded by demonic energy.”
“Did you not say it was a meaningful result while researching a cure?”
“That is the nature of research. Discoveries made in unintended directions also count as results.”
Is she playing with me?
When he shot her a look that said as much, Erica glossed over it with an “Anyway.”
“To put what we discovered simply, it is the difference between prevention and a cure.”
Prevention is preparing for what is to come; a cure is solving what has already happened.
“In that case, what is the status of the cure?”
“That…… still has no progress. As it is a study that must start from scratch, the direction of the results remains unclear.”
Erica let out a long sigh through her nose.
“So, the point of this conversation is that if you have the intention to approach the Demonic Land, we will focus more on researching the anti-demon agent rather than a cure.”
“What do you plan to do by researching an anti-demon agent? Expect the Valdrova Principality to take the risk?”
“No. I intend to involve the Adventurer Guild more.”
“The Adventurer Guild?”
“We have already brought the Adventurer Guild in, but so far, we have only been throwing them requests that amount to running errands. We were just tossing out stopgap measures, but now the time has come to actually use them.”
Adventurers handle various tasks. Everything from mail delivery and minor errands to subjugating monsters and the Guardians who protect regions.
Depending on skill and difficulty, the request fees vary greatly.
“Will those people volunteer to go to the Demonic Land?”
“If this works, there is nothing we can’t do.”
Erica held up her thumb and index finger in a circle.
“What if it wasn’t just a simple investigation request, but a chance to retrieve the mysteries of the East from before they were eroded by demonic energy? Even the junk would be highly sought after at the auction houses.”
Mysterious records of the East were items that could fascinate mages and knights alike.
Even Ferda had thought that if he could learn Eastern magic, he might make great progress.
‘Though it was impossible because of the demonic energy.’
Because the great wall of demonic energy could not be overcome, it was often dismissed as mere legend.
If they could touch a large sum of money, adventurers were the type to jump into a pit of fire.
It was a truly good idea.
People had only observed the current ecology of the Demonic Land; who had actually set foot there?
Identifying the terrain and what lies within would be helpful for future subjugation attempts.
Based on her proposal, he continuously painted a picture of the future.
The things Ferda lacked were being filled, and things he hadn’t imagined were becoming richer.
Yet, Ferda could not let go of one suspicion.
‘Can I really trust this woman?’
The emotions he felt at the Grand Council were still vivid in his mind.
“You’re probably thinking about whether you can trust me, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You certainly are direct.”
She lifted her teacup, pretending to savor the tea for no reason, and slowly closed her eyes.
Then, as if she had made a decision in her heart, she opened them and spoke.
“Those words you said kept coming back to me. You asked what I would do at the very end, didn’t you?”
It was something Ferda had thrown out in the heat of the moment.
“My conclusion is that I will not think about that end at all.”
He was dumbfounded as soon as he heard it.
Was that something a leader should say—that she wanted to escape the future?
But he soon realized that wasn’t it.
What dwelt in her eyes was the responsibility of a leader.
“I want to do my best in what I can do right now.”
Seeing those eyes, Ferda could also be certain.
He could trust this woman.
“Very well. Let us form an alliance.”
Joy spread across her face.
But like a skilled leader, she responded with a calm expression.
“I hope we can develop a good relationship.”
“Since we’ve formed an alliance, may I ask a favor now?”
Erica, who was about to wrap things up, was slightly taken aback by Ferda’s request.
“I didn’t expect you to need help already.”
“The timing is coincidental.”
Ferda had Ruri bring the items captured from Director Linne’s laboratory to show her.
“What is this?”
“Items taken from a demon research facility. The director’s journal and samples.”
“Demons!”
Erica was more than a little surprised.
Ferda briefly explained the events that had occurred at the research facility.
As the explanation continued, Erica became even more agitated.
“My god…… are you saying the demons created a drug that can make a Knight-class in an instant?”
“It’s still a prototype, but a Bouncer-class rivaled two of our knights.”
“There are differences in skill, but if it were a real Bouncer, they wouldn’t struggle that much. It must mean the effect is lesser or there are side effects because it’s a prototype…….”
Erica peered at the liquid inside the bottle.
Her eyes, which had manifested multiple layers of mana and magic circles, tried to analyze the components.
But all that returned was a frustrated expression.
“Above all, this is something mimicking that Godwin’s power. My god. To only find out about such a thing now—Erica, you stupid girl. What have you been doing all this time?”
With eyes wide and her body trembling up and down.
She could not contain her excitement.
Then, she locked eyes with Ferda and gasped, “Oh!”
“I apologize. I’ve made a fool of myself. Before being a leader, I am a researcher, so when I see things like this, I get too excited……”
“I’m used to it.”
He already had one person who would run out naked and scream, and another who would sniff his head to absorb components, so this was practically charming in comparison.
Next, she examined the journal.
Upon seeing the characters in the journal, she furrowed her brows.
“This is…… the language of the High Elves.”
Unlike Ferda, she recognized it at once.
Perhaps she could interpret it?
“Can you translate it?”
“Unfortunately, I only know enough to recognize that they are High Elf characters. The language of the World Tree’s guardians exists for the sake of secrecy.”
“Then it’s impossible?”
“It’s not entirely impossible. No matter how secret it is, the principle is that the elven spirit must always be connected. Those closest to the rooted source handle everything.”
Ferda could also understand the meaning of that source.
“The Grand Chieftain.”
“Yes, that person should be able to interpret it. We would have to enter deep into the West, but it shouldn’t be a major problem……”
They had found a way to break through, but it wasn’t as good as he thought.
High Elves were the highest class among elves and an insular group.
The Grand Chieftain would certainly not be easy to deal with.
“If we can persuade the Grand Chieftain, it might work out somehow……”
“There’s no need to persuade them. We can just blackmail them.”
“Pardon?”
“If we tell them we’ll reveal to the whole world that a High Elf became a Dark Elf, they’ll come running out barefoot.”
“That is…… well……”
It was a subtle problem.
He wasn’t sure whether to call it a good idea or a crazy one.
“For now, let’s discuss this later. The High Elves are currently in the middle of their Autumn Festival and will be preparing for the Winter Festival as well.”
They offer prayers to commemorate the abundance of autumn and the desolation of winter, which do not stop until around the time the spring buds sprout.
At the very least, they would have to wait well over a quarter of a year.
But still, he found significance in the fact that a sliver of possibility had emerged.
“I’ll return the journal to you, and I’ll take these samples. Perhaps I can find a clue regarding the cure.”
Her excited face made him think she might actually pull it off.
Perhaps that was why,
“There is one more thing left.”
“What else is left?”
Erica’s eyes sparkled like a child receiving a birthday present.
“My mana.”
“……Pardon?”
She looked disappointed, like a child who had received a gift suited for a grandmother.
“Mana? What do you mean by that?”
“I can resolve Lady Valdrova’s bloodlust with my mana.”
At those words, her eyes went wide.
Her vertically slit pupils contracted like a cat’s in broad daylight.
“Do you mean you healed her?”
“No. I only resolve the bloodlust that arises in that situation.”
Erica looked more puzzled than interested.
It was such a radical claim that it was hard to believe at face value.
The mages of the Blue Eye are elites.
All of them had put their heads together to research it, but they couldn’t even create something to suppress or resolve it.
And yet, a mere human possessed such strange mana?
And a human influencing a dragon at that?
“I knew the mana of the Red Circle possessed unique properties because it is composed of emotions. But for it to be a power that can suppress or resolve Godwin’s chaos……”
She thought and thought and thought again.
Yet she still couldn’t understand.
Iorga, the status of water and magic.
For Erica, who served as the leader beneath it, to not understand this was an immense blow to her pride.
In the end, Erica cast aside that pride.
“Fine,” she said.
“Let’s try it.”
“Try what?”
“The mana. I need to find out what kind of mana yours is, so I’ll have to feel it directly, won’t I?”
Erica took off her glove and reached out to Ferda.
“It probably won’t have much effect. Since it only works on Lady Valdrova.”
“Are you sure? 100%?”
It had been effective on Valdrova.
However, it had no effect on Ruri, Silverwind’s spawn.
So, it would likely have no effect, or at least a negligible one, on Erica, who was also a spawn.
“I’m reasonably sure.”
“’Reasonably’ and ‘sure’ are words that cannot coexist. Let’s feel it for ourselves. It’s not like it’ll mean much anyway.”
True, what special meaning could there be in passing mana?
Thinking so, Ferda took Erica’s hand.
“I expect your mana isn’t anything special. You probably used magic unconsciously like blood-born shamans, or it flows in a way that—hyahhhhnaaanng!?”
As soon as the mana was injected, a sharp scream burst from her mouth.
It was the cry of a young lady startled by a cold wind blowing under her skirt.
Erica’s legs gave out, and she slumped right where she stood.
Sitting on the floor, Erica looked up at Ferda.
Startled by the unexpected situation, Ferda quickly let go of her hand.
On the face of the cold leader Erica, a blush from shame and trembling pupils had taken hold.
“??”
“??”
Ferda and Erica stared at each other’s faces.
“?????”
“?????”
Even though they stared at each other, there was no one to solve this mystery.
“Womanizer.”
Ruri condemned him with a cold gaze.
She hadn’t said anything, but she had watched everything with bated breath.
Ferda was more than a little flustered.
“What’s this talk about being a womanizer?”
“Didn’t you just flirt with that arrogant girl?”
“I only held her hand, and the leader was the one who screamed.”
“A scream? To anyone’s ears, that was a moan.”
Ferda had to admit that much.
“I only let my mana flow; it was what the Iorga leader wanted.”
“You’ve brought the exact repertoire of those who cheat.”
This is driving me crazy.
“You have felt it as well.”
“And did I howl like that arrogant girl?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“There was nothing special. It was just mana. But when you do it to the Iorga leader, there is something different. Perhaps……”
Ruri asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Do you like that bitch?”
“Are you insane?”
He reflexively grimaced and cursed.
“It was just mana.”
“Then why am I the only one who’s fine?”
“Does that matter?”
“It matters.”
Ruri took off her gloves irritably.
“Try it. If I feel even a little bit of something, I’ll give it my all and moan just like her.”
Since Ruri was acting like that, he had no desire to hold her hand, regardless of the truth.
Ferda also decided to respond firmly.
“Why are you being so oversensitive?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I didn’t mind your questioning so much. But today, you are being incredibly persistent.”
“……Is it not because you are doing this while having a fiancé?”
“To me, it looks like more than just oversensitivity. Did I whisper words of love? Did I drag her to the bedroom? It was merely a new reaction born out of ignorance, so why are you making me out to be a scoundrel?”
Ferda showed his anger while remaining calm.
Hearing those words, Ruri showed a sense of agitation within her expressionless face.
After thinking about Ferda’s words, she lowered her head.
“I apologize. You are right. I am merely Lady Valdrova’s attendant……”
Seeing her muttering like a dejected puppy, Ferda was reminded of what had happened today.
Ruri had had as difficult a day as Ferda.
The pressure of war and the gaze of Goz Silverwind.
She had to endure those things.
‘Right, it was a hard day.’
That was likely why she was being so oversensitive and making a fuss.
She had been doing her best, as always.
It was a matter for praise, not reprimand.
Ferda looked down at Ruri, who stood before him with her head bowed, and said,
“You worked hard today.”
And he placed his hand on her head, lightly stroking it.
“…….”
Ruri neither raised her head nor reacted.
The moment he placed his hand on her head, she froze solid.
After placing his hand on her head, Ferda thought:
What is this crazy thing I’m doing?
My body followed suit without thinking, but why did I do this?
Ferda knew why that action felt like déjà vu.
Hadn’t it been said that when an adult male praises a child, stroking their head is effective?
That was why Mori had asked him to do that when he praised her.
That was it.
Ferda had treated Ruri like a child.
She was already someone who got annoyed when treated like a child.
She would undoubtedly be angry.
“Ngh……”
He thought so, but it wasn’t the case.
Don’t treat me like a child; I am a dragon spawn and you are a human.
Contrary to his expectation that she would react that way, Ruri was silent.
She remained with her head bowed, feeling Ferda’s touch.
‘Why?’
He didn’t know.
They say beasts feel a sense of comfort when the scruff of their neck is held.
Is it because they feel a mother’s love, or is it because of habit?
Or, he thought, perhaps she was so overwhelmed by anger that the moment he removed his hand, it would be like a detonator button and he would die.
While all sorts of thoughts filled his head, she opened her mouth.
“G-get out quickly. I have to clean.”
“Right, I understand.”
Only then did Ferda remove his hand, and Ruri moved as well.
She immediately spun around and began sweeping the floor.
For a very brief moment, her skin, not hidden by her hair, was visible.
Her face was flushed bright red.
Ruri thought:
All humans change.
The heart cannot resist the flow of time.
It is a thing as fickle as a reed, to the point where consistency is treated as a revered virtue.
Ferda was the same.
She no longer knew what that man was thinking.
To think a person could change so much in less than a year.
He has Lady Valdrova, yet now he continues to act like a womanizer, holding other women’s hands.
He kept doing only hateful things.
‘…….’
No, Ruri knew.
That man hadn’t changed.
She knew he didn’t think much of it when he held their hands.
She knew he had no intention of cheating.
He was just using it as an excuse to pester her.
But now, a stifling emotion welled up.
Right.
The one who had changed was Ruri herself.
Ruri was also vaguely aware of it.
When she became anxious, Ferda’s name naturally began to come to mind rather than the thought that she could do it.
And when Goz arrived at the castle, she had even reflexively grabbed his sleeve.
That change had begun after she had sobbed in his arms after Ferda killed Abel.
‘Lord Silverwind.’
For a moment, Ferda had felt like Silverwind.
‘Why……’
She couldn’t understand why she had made such a ridiculous mistake.
Silverwind and Ferda were different.
Unlike the rough men of the North, his personality was gentle and intellectual.
The strictness that emphasized rules was something forged by the harsh North and the second-in-command, Goz.
‘They don’t look alike at all.’
Silverwind was a middle-aged man with a long beard when polymorphed, while Ferda was a very young man.
If there was a resemblance, it was at most the hair color, and even that was a stretch.
She thought back carefully.
Ruri came to realize one thing.
‘The scent.’
The scent she felt when she leaned against Ferda and cried.
A cool scent where peppermint and chamomile mixed, spreading intensely yet subtly.
And the scent of ash that makes things desolate.
Why had she sensed that scent from Ferda?
‘It’s an illusion.’
A ridiculous illusion.
Because she had been overwhelmed by emotion, her memory had become confused.
Ruri thought so.
She had to.
To mistake him for her father, Silverwind, was a profanity.
‘I really need to scrub him clean.’
She would fill the bath with lavender and soak him thoroughly to erase it.
Whatever the case, Ferda was the one at fault.
