Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Custody Commotion

Custody Commotion
Chapter 107. Custody Dispute

— Excellent. You did well.

The union formed by the village workers, upon assembling, would end up as a puppet unable to escape Ferda’s influence. That was the situation Ferda desired.

— Thank you. Also, the name change for the Dandolo Company has been completed in the Empire. From now on, it will officially operate as the Hestia Trading Company, not as the Dandolo Company. The family crest embedded on the storefront will now bear the coat of arms of Valdrova.

— You are doing well. Continue as you have been.

— Please leave it to me.

The council with the provisional union ended like this.

— Since it has been resolved smoothly, it seems you can now return to your other tasks.

Instead of standing up from his seat, Ferda shifted his gaze toward the documents she had stacked up.

— I heard there are a few more dispute cases.

— That is correct, but they can be resolved by proxy under the Administrator’s authority.

— No, since we are already on this, let’s resolve them. Since I’ve come all the way here, isn’t it better to resolve them quickly? And…

— And?

— Resolving things through dialogue like this feels novel.

— Mmm, I understand.

Can this even be called dialogue? She had some doubts, but Isabella did not complain.

Isabella moved, and shortly after, two men entered.

— These are the stonemasons requiring mediation that I mentioned earlier.

Ferda looked at them briefly. A dark-skinned man and a relatively pale man sat side by side. At first glance, their appearances were clearly divided between southern and central origins.

Ferda asked the dark-skinned one first.

— Are you from Halim?

— Yes. I have walked the sole path of castle wall construction in Halim for 20 years—.

— And you are from the Empire?

— That is correct.

— I’ve heard the gist of it. In short, your two construction methods differ, so you are coordinating them, right?

The pale stonemason spoke.

— Yes. We are discussing how to build the wall considering the terrain and characteristics, but this southern bastard doesn’t understand at all…

The imperial stonemason clicked his tongue.

At that, the stonemason from Halim snorted.

— Saying we must consider the terrain and characteristics means the wall isn’t perfect in the end, isn’t it? The walls we build in Halim boast of being unbreakable no matter what situation arises.

— Seems the winter wind went to your head coming from a warm region. Since you’ve never been invaded, you stack walls with sand, so would they have any internal strength?

— If filling empty holes with stones is construction, then our three-year-old child would also be a master craftsman.

— You little—!

— Stop.

He stopped them before the hammers meant for striking walls turned toward each other’s heads.

Ferda could somewhat understand what had happened. It was a matter born of the pride of two master craftsmen.

— I understand both opinions well. So I can give a clear answer.

— Do you mean you know which method to use for construction?

— How could that be?

No matter how intelligent Ferda was, he could not compare to people who had touched nothing but walls their entire lives.

But this problem could be solved clearly.

Ferda raised his index finger.

— 1 month.

— …Pardon?

— Within that time, build a wall 4 meters long and high.

The two made stunned expressions.

— What do you mean by that?

— Perhaps you are telling us to decide for ourselves which method to use?

— Exactly. That is what you must do.

From the perspective of those who came for mediation, it was an absurd judgment.

Ferda did not stop there and added more.

— You must build a wall in 1 month that can sufficiently withstand my siege magic.

— Huh?

The two artisans looked at Ferda with bewildered eyes.

They wondered if it was some kind of joke, but Ferda’s eyes were shining.

— Whether one construction method is better or whatever, you won’t understand even if I explain, so I am presenting my own solution.

Ferda pointed his finger at them.

— You know how to make sturdy walls.

And this time, at himself.

— And I know how to break walls.

The Empire’s proud, sturdy walls had also crumbled at his hands.

— So build the hardest wall you can in 1 month. I will strike the exact center of that wall with Magic Explosion. Understood?

— What happens if that wall collapses?

— Simple.

He drew his thumb across his throat.

The two stonemasons turned pale.

— W-Will we be executed just because a wall built in 1 month collapsed?

— The charge will be impersonation of experts and fraud for making a substandard wall. It could even escalate to a national security threat.

— That is far too exaggerated.

— Exaggerated, Administrator?

Isabella shook her head.

— Seeking the death penalty for those who failed to protect the border is a bargain.

— That is what she says.

The artisans realized it was not the time for pride. Their past days of considering each other enemies became insignificant, as a true enemy threatening their lives had appeared.

While breaking out in a cold sweat, Ferda asked.

— Are you thinking of running away?

— Cough!

— N-No, how could we?

Ferda, seeing right through their intentions:

— You can run away. Try it if you can. But we will hunt you down and bring you back. Of course, by then it won’t matter whether there is a wall or not.

Ferda exhaled an “Mmm…” and asked them calmly.

— Have you ever suffered enough to be confused about whether to beg to live or beg to die?

— …

— If you are curious about the process, I will gladly tell you.

— N-No, sir!

— We won’t run away, so why would we need to know that, haha…!

The two, their spirits completely strained.

Ferda nodded.

— Then I will assume you understand everything I said.

— Of course! Naturally we understand, don’t we?!

— Then go. Now you have 29 days, 23 hours, and 55 minutes left. It would be best to build the wall even a day early.

— Yes, sir!!

At Ferda’s order, they fled from their seats as if running for their lives.

As the murderous atmosphere settled down, Ferda murmured.

— Dialogue is a better medium than I thought.

— If you call that dialogue.

She spoke like that, but Isabella had a satisfied expression.

— At least they won’t fight unproductively anymore.

— If they still fight after this, that’s something to acknowledge in its own way. Next dispute case?

— This dispute is…

Ferda continued resolving disputes afterward. Since there were no proud people like the two stonemasons, he was able to resolve them easily without threats.

— It seems the work is done with this.

Before he realized it, all the documents Isabella had placed had disappeared, so he attempted to finish.

It was then.

— There is still one case left.

— A case?

Isabella took out a single document from her file and handed it to him.

— Seeing how you resolved things today, I thought you would be suitable to judge this. This is a complaint I wrote myself.

Ferda looked at the accused written on her complaint. The moment he saw it, his breath stopped for an instant. He felt as if what was going to happen was already unfolding before his eyes.

— …Will you accuse this person?

— That is correct.

Her blue eyes were deadly serious. She drove the nail firmly with these words.

— I accuse Echidna Philias of negligence.

— This fucking bitch.

The one who cursed the moment they faced each other was Echidna. The very first words she uttered upon flying here the instant the telegram was sent.

“This is new.”

Now, she finally felt like a witch.

Isabella, who was cursed at upon meeting, remained unmovable.

She pushed up her glasses, which had slipped slightly, and spoke.

— Nice to meet you, Head of Research. Whether human or beast, one greets upon meeting someone, but it seems you do not fit into either of those two categories.

Isabella was no pushover either.

Echidna’s eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets.

— You started the fight first, you know? Did eating your age through your backside make your life that tedious???

— What fight did I start? I simply stated the facts.

— That I didn’t do my work? What do you know to say that??

The clash of two proud women was like the collision of two dragons.

Thus, only the backs of innocent bystanders were breaking.

— Uh, Regent-nim…

Stefan, whose back was breaking, asked with a trembling voice.

— Why?

— T-That witch… who is she?

— A witch we hired at our castle.

— Why have you kept it a secret until now? I’ve never heard of a witch living here…

— There was no particular need to hide it, nor to tell it either.

That was true.

Stefan held his chest, watching their expressions so his back wouldn’t break any further.

Isabella cleared her throat and spoke to Ferda in a clear voice.

— As I said, I accuse Head of Research Echidna Philias of negligence. Her research progress is less than that of Marquis Vernel, who was recruited later, and she hasn’t even reported progress once. Recording what one does is the duty of a researcher. Abandoning that duty is no different from negligence.

Isabella’s words were logical.

Given Echidna’s usual personality, she could have apologized and moved on.

But there was a fundamental reason why she couldn’t admit it.

— So what you want is…

Ferda swallowed hard, wondering if he should read this, and then spoke.

— …the custody of Mori.

Custody.

He thought it was a truly trivial reason.

But it was also because of that word ‘custody’ that things reached this point.

It was the reason Isabella accused Echidna,
And the reason Echidna’s eyes popped wide open.

— Look at this rationally. Can such a fierce witch handle a delicate child?

— Mori-chan was raised well in my hands before you arrived, you know?? Regent-nim, surely you won’t take her from me based on such words??

Echidna shot a fierce glare.

— Just asking, if that is the case, will you kill me?

— Huh? No! Whatever happens, how could I touch Regent-nim…

Echidna, realizing her mistake, relaxed her expression.

Even so, her eyes were not entirely back to normal.

Ferda’s head ached as much as they were agitated.

“How should I handle this…?”

It was not an easily solvable problem.

Originally, the process of making that golem was not easy, and even now he felt her value sufficiently from the fact that she was a Rune Maker.

“But Isabella’s words also have merit.”

A strange situation where progress on creating golems was non-existent, yet Mori’s clothes grew more colorful by the day.

There was nothing to say, even if it looked like negligence.

“Moreover, the value of the golem is expected right now.”

Since they had mentioned the Eastern Conquest, the priority for that golem had risen.

There was a need to push her research.

“The leverage to touch that is custody.”

It was nothing less than walking a tightrope.

But a witch is a master of the Red Circle.

Like Philias, her obsession is terrifying.

Since they are subordinates who activate circuits with emotion, they had to be handled with care.

After growling at each other for a while, Echidna proposed:

— If you’re going to take custody from me, let’s hear Mori-chan’s opinion first!

At those words, Ferda turned his gaze toward Isabella.

— Agreed.

Isabella showed surprising interest there.

As if the negligence didn’t matter.

Anyway, to reach a conclusion, Ferda summoned Mori.

A young girl in neat attire entered.

— Ah, so… cute…

— Gulp…!

Echidna made a fuss upon seeing her, and Isabella, seeing that face, let out a choked sound from emotion.

— Are all witches and dragon hatchlings like this?

— How would I know?

No interest.

Regardless, Ferda decided to do his job.

— I will ask the questions. Mori, how would it be best to resolve this issue?

Mori looked at Echidna and Isabella alternately, then wrote as usual.

With flowing handwriting, she replied like this:

— I think cutting the body in half is the clear answer.

…?

Ferda pondered those words seriously.

Because he thought it might be a poetic metaphor.

— Do you mean to see which of the two cherishes you more?

— Eliminating the root of the conflict is also a method.

She was telling him to kill her.

Ferda heard those words and looked back at Mori’s face.

The dark circles were pronounced under her eyes.

— …I will judge.

Ferda opened his mouth.

— Mori will be managed under my supervision for one week.

— Yeeeess!???

— Huh!?

Isabella and Echidna, startled.

Naturally, they objected.

— T-That is absurd, w-where does such a law exist? You delegated her to me.

— That was only temporary until a measure was found. Mori is property of the Grand Duchy, so her management can be chosen by me, and therefore, for me to manage her is also possible.

Isabella fiddled with her glasses, embarrassed.

— Above all, Lady Mori is a petite child. I believe it is not good for such a child to be handled by a man…

Scratch, scratch, scratch!

— Her own thoughts seem different.

Mori vigorously marked Xs with her pen.

That judgment seemed to be the answer for her.

— During this week, Ruri and I will manage Mori. Since she doesn’t speak anyway, there won’t be much impediment even if she works by our side.

— What will you do after that week?

— I will decide based on the performance of the accused.

Ferda’s blue eyes turned toward Echidna.

— Echidna.

His low voice made Echidna’s body shudder.

— Y-Yes!

— The reason you entered here is to research your golem. Right?

— Y-Yes, t-that is correct…

— Vernel showed results, but you have had nothing to say so far. I know you like playing with dolls, but you at least have to do your job.

— Wuu…

Echidna could not refute and lowered her head.

— So I will give a grace period of 6 months. Until then, the management system will switch weekly.

— Do those words mean that if I do one week, I have to yield one week to this witch?

— Correct.

It was unsatisfactory for both.

In a situation where taking full custody wasn’t enough, having to alternate like shifts every week.

— And.

Ferda’s words did not end there.

— Mori will report to me on her efficiency status. When efficiency significantly decreases, the remaining period will be replaced by a substitute without prior notice. And if the substitute shows a decrease in efficiency, I will place them under my command for a month.

If they fight over a toy, taking the toy away is natural.

The moment that judgment was handed down, light returned to Mori’s eyes.

The characters she wrote on her note were these:

— A judgment worthy of a benevolent ruler, I consider.

— Good. Let us conclude like this.

Echidna shot a glare at Isabella.

Eyes mixed with resentment as if saying all of this was her fault.

Yet, strangely, the circuit did not move.

It meant that the emotions contributing to the circuit’s formation were far from such anger and resentment.

Isabella met her gaze without backing down.

In terms of spirit, the former Chief Secretary of the Magic Tower was no pushover either.

He could feel how the rift between the two was deepening.

Aside from that, Mori had a much more relaxed face.