Chapter 187

I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 187: Trap

Trap
Chapter 187. Trap

Meanwhile, the World Tree.
As major incidents erupted one after another in just a few hours, the festival preparations were ultimately postponed.
The High Elves began serious discussions about the current situation.
— The Master of the Blue Eyes Tower caused an uproar and left, so what should we do about it?
— Judging right and wrong… is an ambiguous matter. She acted roughly, but there were only many injuries, no casualties.
If casualties had occurred among the Forest Elves, the authority to seal her inside the World Tree would have been generated.
Erika kept that fact in mind when she went on a rampage, which was why stopping her with the strength of only a few Forest Elves and High Elves was insufficient.
— Rather, our side, which counterattacked, was prepared to inflict severe injuries, so to judge right and wrong, we would have to give up our rest.
For them, rest was an essential element like water and salt.
Finally, someone let out a sigh.
— It’s a disaster. How did everything turn into such a mess…?
— Do not drown in sadness.
The Elder High Elf, Cyprus, opened his mouth.
He wore new clothes, neatly groomed, but only his left arm was empty.
— The task we must achieve is to obtain the Mother’s Seed through joy.
— But in a situation like this, how…?
— Are you planning to tear down everything the ancestors built over a single personal emotion?
The High Elves closed their mouths.
— Stop worrying about the Great Chief. If there is sadness, you need the heart that tells you greater joy will come. Since the principle is that everything circulates anyway, what difference does it make if a few are discarded?
— I understand your words.
— Everything is for the Mother…
The meeting of the High Elves ended like that.
Cyprus did not return to his room.
Instead, he directed his steps toward the Mother’s Heart.
Upon entering the interior, threads flying through the sky like a lake could be seen.
The only difference from the usual landscape was the Great Chief.
Instead of being seated, he was lying down.
His consciousness had already returned.
He did not even look at him, showing only his back.
— Great Chief, your blood relative has left.
— Is that so?
The Great Chief replied as if he were bitter.
He remained motionless with his head turned, and the elder stayed in that spot.
— This is the second defection of a High Elf. Linne, that guy said he was the last, but your blood relative has created the second case.
— What can I do? My child, unable to connect to the Mental Network, a boy no different from a long-lived human…
— Is that so?
— Yes.
— …..
— …..
— When did you realize?
— …..
— Other compatriots overlooked it without suspicion, but you alone are sharp, so I watched closely. From what I have observed, you definitely did not know. Or am I being too arrogant?
— …As you say, I did not know. Perhaps, if today had not happened, everything would have flowed according to your intentions forever.
— What did you feel from that human?
The Great Chief replied.
— I realized that I had forgotten something very important. That when an encounter arrives, a farewell arrives. That when joy arrives, sadness eventually takes its place.
— You wasted more than a thousand years on that rigid way.
Cyprus pointed outside.
— Look. Magic is for superior beings like us, but at some point, monkeys are also using magic, aren’t they?
— …..
— They are defiling pure mana. They do not know the essence of the crystal formed from a united spirit.
Cyprus’s face became even gloomier.
— It does not matter if they use magic and pose as saviors. But the Mother’s Seed, at least, we must take it before those inferior, short-lived races.
— …..
— Do you know what they call the Mother’s Seed? They call it a “Wish.” They divide it into the 9th Circle stage, and without any basis, they are insolently trying to obtain it.
— So you decided to trample upon purity?
The Great Chief carefully raised his lying body to sit up.
His powerless face looked even more haggard.
— Do you think you can obtain the “Mother’s Seed” that way?
— Of course.
— Think carefully. What you are doing leads us to nothingness. Our work is something that swells without knowing when to stop, and eventually bursts.
The Great Chief recalled what he had seen in Ferda’s mind.
Behavior and maturity unfitting for his age.
Emotion before love took root.
Anger and hatred accumulated over 32 years.
And an amount of emotion accumulated over thousands of years that overwhelmed even the High Elves.
— That is something humans, no… anyone who sets foot on this continent, must never possess. We are no exception.
It was practically a declaration of surrender.
— Is that so?
A resigned face.
Yet unlike that face, his hand moved swiftly, drawing a rune.
Hwoong!
A cutting wind flew toward the Great Chief’s head.
But a thread moving even faster blocked its path, and the cutting wind dispersed.
— But what can we do?
— …..
— We are already in the process of reaching the Source. Telling us to stop now… is not for everyone.
— Do you think you can stop me?
Following the Great Chief’s will, the threads formed into white hands.
A hand so large that its pinky finger was comparable to the height of an adult man.
That hand vanished in the blink of an eye.
When it reappeared, it gripped the place where Cyprus stood.
— Hmm…!
The hand trying to grasp him recoiled.
Half of the white threads forming the palm flew away.
An ominous power without equal.
— I know I cannot do it alone.
In his right hand, he held something black and viscous.
It was a black magic book.
Ominous and viscous mana amplified and emanated from that magic book.
— A demon?
— Would I sell myself to demon bastards?
If it is a being similar to a demon, only one remains.
— A demonic race. They lent their power…
— You don’t believe it, do you?
Cyprus smiled ironically.
The Great Chief shook his head.
— No, in your current state, it would not be strange even if you did.
Power he wants to take even if it returns everything to nothingness.
For Cyprus, the Mother’s Seed is such an existence.
— Do not relax, Great Chief. Right now, I can defeat you sufficiently.
Cyprus raised his finger.
From the tip of that finger, mana radiated, drawing a rune.
However, the shape and color of that rune turned black, unlike what he had used until now.
— I will cast you to the end of the Void, and I will ascend to the position of Great Chief.
He must not think it is the same as before.
The Great Chief hardened his resolve.
Even if he loses his life, he will stop Cyprus here.
All the threads in the room gathered to create several dozen hands.
— Like everything in the world, it will not be easy.

East of the Serdes Continent, Valdrova Castle.
Rize, who had escaped from the World Tree, was confirmed to stay at Valdrova Castle.
The first thing he did was greetings.
— Hello, I am Rize. Starting today, I will be in your care.
— Huh? Ah, yes. Nice to meet you…?
A beautiful woman suddenly approached and greeted them warmly, so everyone, regardless of gender, could not help but feel bewildered.
Rize, unaware of such feelings, politely greeted each person.
Finally, Ferda approached him and said.
— Former Secretary Rize.
— Yes?
— There is no need to greet every single person.
— But according to human etiquette, since I might be an unwelcome guest, isn’t it right to greet each person one by one so as not to offend them…?
Unwelcome guest…
Who would treat Rize as an unwelcome guest?
With that pure appearance, even possessing greetings and manners, a few words would be enough for anyone to feel favorable.
Ferda still wondered if he was really a man.
— Greeting the mistress of this castle is enough.
— M-Madam Valdrova, you mean.
Rize swallowed hard.
— There is no need to be nervous.
— Ah, I’m sorry! It was not nervousness in a bad way.
— Is that so?
Most people reacted like that due to Valdrova’s notoriety.
Rize was different.
— Yes, as you can see from my actions, I am not that old among the High Elves. So this is the first time I see a dragon directly…
Rize’s eyes sparkled as if affirming it was not a lie.
— How should I put it… I’m quite excited?
One thing was certain: he had a very curious personality.
Seeing that reaction, Ferda responded like this.
— It will be the same.
— Huh? What do you mean?
What that side feels is the same thing Valdrova feels.
He thought this guy might have good chemistry.
He is more like a young lady than Penelope or Ludmilla.
‘If only he were not a man…’
Pointlessly, he blamed the heavens.
— Former Secretary Rize.
The one who called his name was the maid, Ruri.
— Yes, yes!
He was a bit taller than Ruri, but looked much smaller, crushed by her spirit.
— It’s fine to go around greeting people, but how about managing the spirits you brought?
— Uh… d-did they cause an accident?
— Yes. They are causing an accident ‘again’.
Ruri pointed somewhere with her finger.
There was a garden, and three spirits were playing.
— Kyahaha! It’s shaped like poop!
— Mine is a strangely shaped janglo!
— It’s exactly the same!
While arbitrarily changing the shapes of the ornamental trees.
— Right now, too.
Tense veins rose on Ruri’s childish face.
— Kyaaaaah! I’m sooorryyy!
Rize turned pale and ran to the garden, starting to scold the spirits.
— How did he pick up such things?
— True.
Ferda let it slide and asked Ruri.
— Her Highness Valdrova?
— She is locked inside. Girly sounds flow without stopping.
Ruri glared at Ferda.
As if everything were his fault.
All Ferda did was drop the name ‘Eleanor’.
After that, Valdrova staggered away from Ferda like a drunk person.
‘Was the name that bad?’
I should ask her later if she wants to change it.
— Regent-nim!
While thinking that, a man approached with a very cheerful voice.
It was Jed, with a brown ponytail.
— I heard.
— What did you hear about?
— That you brought an incredibly cute boy. And an elf, to top it off…!
His instinct was still intact.
Ferda pointed with his chin toward the garden.
Seeing Rize’s appearance, Jed’s eyes sparkled.
— Wow, not a woman who looks like an elf, but a real elf. The authentic thing is on another level, huh?
— Do you have some illness where you can’t control your heat unless you do something about it?
— I don’t know what you mean, but I am a gentleman who flirts, but stops if the person doesn’t like it.
— I hope a witch rots your crotch.
Leaving behind Ruri, who was pouring curses, Jed asked Ferda.
— So, can I try to seduce him just once?
Ferda gave him a pathetic look and replied.
— Sure.
— Huh? Seriously?
— What reason would I have to joke about this?
— What? Do you think I can’t seduce him? I’ll have to show you my skills.
Jed brushed his hair back, checking his greasy smile.
Ferda watched him in silence.
Ruri, who had been silent, asked slyly.
— Does that Swallow guy like men too?
— No way.
— Then this will be worth watching.
Ruri also crossed her arms and watched.
Jed approached warmly and greeted him.
Rize smiled and greeted back.
And they exchanged some trivial stories, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Ten minutes later, Jed, who had been talking non-stop, waved his hand and said goodbye to Rize.
When he turned around and returned to Ferda, his face was certainly a sight to behold.
It was the first time Jed’s face had turned so red.
He approached Ferda and asked.
— …Did you know?
— Of course.
— Shit…
He couldn’t curse because he was his superior.
Ruri gave him a thumbs up.
— Don’t worry. I’ll spread the word about your gay fondness.
— No, I didn’t even seduce him? So it’s not that I got rejected after seducing, nor that I seduced him.
— We’ll see who believes your words.
— Regent-nim!
While the threats toward Jed continued, a frivolous voice shouted Ferda’s name.
It was Penelope, Jed’s soulmate.
I wondered why she hadn’t shown up.
— I heard an incredibly sexy hottie arrived.
— …Right.
Ferda pointed with his chin, and Penelope looked back.
Penelope made an even more beastly sound than when she had run.
— Ohoht! He’s really cute!
— What, are you interested?
— Of course! So, Regent-nim~. May I ask if I can use him as my daily sustenance?
Penelope, rolling her eyes, using honorifics that had no effect.
Pathetic in a different dimension from Jed.
While he was dumbfounded, Jed replied in his place.
— Go ahead. I allow it.
— Hurray! I’m going right now!
Penelope ran like a child going to buy toys, and Jed chuckled seeing her.
— I can’t be the only one who gets played.
— …..
Ferda was dumbfounded.
Both the bastard and the bitch who sidelined the person who actually had to give permission.
— Now that I think about it.
— Yes.
— That demon, didn’t she sleep with you too?
— Right?
— Then, that Rize is a man shouldn’t be a problem, right?
— Come on, no way. She sings every day that she hates men no matter what, so how could she… eh, that crazy bitch, where is she dragging him?
Penelope was trying to take Rize’s hand and go somewhere secluded.
Jed ran quickly, knocked her out, and protected Rize’s chastity.
For the time being, Penelope received a restraining order not to approach Rize.