Chapter 250

Chapter 250: Contact

Valdrova had turned into a single, great rose.
Just with our gazes meeting…
This kind of eye contact had certainly occurred many times before.
Yet I never knew that the scenery beyond a single mask would be so unfamiliar and raw.
Valdrova finally closed her eyes.
However, the fact that she closed her eyes stimulated Ferda’s heart even more.
The texture of her tightly closed eyebrows was clearly visible, and the contours of her face became even sharper.
Pale skin and small, lovely lips.
Turned into a forbidden fruit that could not be obtained, she tempted Ferda.
It felt as if an intense wave of desire crashed completely over Ferda.
Ferda crossed the line once more.
He placed his hand upon Valdrova’s face.
At the sudden sensation, Valdrova’s body flinched.
Before her appearance, frozen like stone, Ferda’s fingers slowly traced her jawline, taking it in slowly.
Valdrova’s body trembled faintly.
Even though it was merely a touch, her heart beat with greater ferocity.
“At this rate, I might die.”
Both hands reflexively tried to push Ferda’s hand away.
She tried to put an end to this situation that was solely terrifying and unfamiliar.
Yet what those hands touched was her own chest.
Instead of pushing it away, she tried to stop her trembling body with those hands.
However, that alone was not enough.
The hand that had been tracing her jawline grew bolder and bolder.
It moved from the bony line felt on the skin to the cheek, where the true nature of the flesh was perceived.
He pressed lightly and pulled back.
With springy elasticity, a pleasant scent that had adhered to her skin drifted faintly.
Ferda knew this sensation.
“It is exactly as I imagined…”
The hallucination felt when he was trapped with the Armored Knight.
It was identical to the Valdrova he met in that hallucination.
If he grasped it, it would surely be incredibly soft.
If he confirmed even that sensation, he might have realized it was reality.
Yet he did not.
Like the head of a camel peering into a tent, desire dug deeper and deeper into Ferda’s heart.
His instincts craved more than just touching her cheek, and he held that in his gaze.
Two pieces of well-polished red jade.
Clearly perceptible elasticity.
Curious.
He only wanted to know what kind of sensory pleasure that small thing could offer.
Trembling lips revealed white teeth as they spoke.
—Ferda-ssi…
At her voice, Ferda’s movement stopped.
Only then did he notice the Red Circle spinning violently.
—Yes.
—Uhm… I, I did not say you could t-touch…
—Ah…
Only then did Ferda withdraw his hand.
That hand seemed to have nowhere to go, leaving only regret.
—Uuuu…
Covering her bright red face, she buried her head deeply.
Ferda apologized to her.
—I am sorry. I committed an impoliteness without realizing it.
Tightly bitten lips and eyes that seemed on the verge of tears.
That expression holding resentment and jealousy was frightening yet lovely.
She thought for a moment, then said this.
—…Do you want to touch?
—Yes?
—I also… want to touch. It is not as if only Ferda-ssi has greed.
Her hands grew restless.
She acted as if she were going to be selfish, but those hands seemed to be waiting for permission.
Ferda nodded in silence.
—Understood.
—Cl-close your eyes.
—Do I have to?
—Because it is embarrassing.
—Understood.
Ferda closed his eyes just like that.
Because he could not see, other things were felt with greater clarity.
Or was he merely imagining it?
A gaze watching him was felt, one he would normally never permit.
He felt he knew what emotion Valdrova was experiencing.
Being looked at is that painful and difficult, yet at the same time, it makes the heart race.
A soft sensation touched Ferda’s jaw.
Small and warm.
A faint scent of roses drifted off.
Her fingertips clearly revealed what they felt.
—Here… it is a bit rough. Is it a wound?
—Stubble. I tidied up before coming, but it seems some remains.
—Ferda-ssi also grows a beard.
—I am a man, after all.
—I see. Ferda-ssi’s stubble…
Whether she liked that roughness, she touched it several times and a giggling laugh was heard.
—It is amazing.
She said.
—It is definitely a face I always see, but touching it like this feels different. Is that why Ferda-ssi liked my face so much?
The voice that had been chattering nonstop disappeared.
He could not know at all what she was doing.
What was she trying to do?
He opened his eyes carefully.
Eyes that seemed possessed by something.
Her finger was placed near Ferda’s lips.
When their gazes met, she blushed again, like the saying that her face was the Phase of Fire.
—I, I told you not to open your eyes…
—I am sorry.
In the end, the mutual touch of lips ended in failure, creating an awkward atmosphere.
Valdrova, with a bright red face, drove the final nail in.
—Touching faces is forbidden from now on.
—…Understood.
It felt as if the sky were falling.
As if understanding Ferda’s heart, she added.
—I want to do something less embarrassing than that.
—What would that be?
—That is…
Valdrova said.
—You tried to hug me at first, right?
Ferda remembered clearly.
Because the expectation was great, the disappointment was also great.
—That is right.
—In truth, when I met Ferda-ssi, the first thing I wanted to do was hug you… But the timing…
The timing.
Ferda remembered the nobles who had accompanied him.
They seemed useless, except for the development of the Far East.
—If it is uncomfortable, I will throw them out right now and return.
—N-no? Th-there is no need for that! It is already in the past.
Since she stopped him, Ferda sat down again.
—I spoke with Penelope about wanting to hug Ferda-ssi…
—Yes.
—So Penelope made something good.
—…That is truly something to look forward to.
—You look forward to it, right?
What on earth did that damn demon do?
Depending on the severity, he was thinking of deciding whether to kill her brutally or with mercy.
Without knowing such a heart, Valdrova carefully showed him the thing Penelope had made.
Four spheres made of rubber.
—They are Valdrova-exclusive penetration prevention devices.
—…I see.
—If you put them on your head like this…
Pop, pop, pop, pop!
—Ta-da! The sharp horns disappear.
She had an immensely proud face.
Ferda thought to himself as he watched.
If Valdrova used strength, wouldn’t it pierce through anyway?
Yet that appearance looked so trivial and cute that it was a satisfying sight for Ferda.
—With this, I can hug Ferda-ssi. So…—
Valdrova rose from her seat.
Holding a warm glow under the setting sun in the west, she spread both arms.
—…Will you hug me?—
Ferda could not refuse.
He stood up and hugged her carefully.
A fluffy sensation pressed against his chest.
He thought it might be the most useful thing among what that damn demon had invented.
Valdrova’s hands wrapped around Ferda’s waist.
No strength entered them.
He thought Valdrova did not like intense hugs.
Ferda also held her lightly.
—Harder…—
Valdrova whispered in his ear.
—Since I cannot squeeze Ferda-ssi…—
Only then did Ferda have certainty.
That Valdrova always thought the same as him.
—As much as I wanted to see you… hug me that hard.—
Ferda hugged her tightly, with all his strength.
With the resolve that those horns would pierce through the spongy rubber lumps and wound his chest once again.

The Silverwind headquarters, located in the Far North of the Serdes Continent.
Silverwind built a citadel for his Dragon Spawn and a fortress to block the Frost Giants.
It had stood for over a thousand years, and the fortress remained robust even now, as ferocious winds raged.
Two Dragon Spawn stood guard in the watchtower.
One observed the blizzard raging outside from the tower, the other read a book with a staff resting on his shoulder.
—Hwaaam, I am bored to death.—
—Stand guard properly, brat.—
—Dragon Spawn have pride, why do we have to stand guard?—
—Who doesn’t have pride to be standing guard with you in a place like this?—
—Well, Captain Percival stands guard too…—
With a look of understanding, but a face full of dissatisfaction.
—I have enough seniority now too, I wish a junior would come. What about you, Captain?—
—If juniors come, that is good for me.—
—Shouldn’t we start recruiting warriors soon? Many comrades have begun to die at the hands of the Frost Giants…—
In the past, when Silverwind was alive, many warrior candidates were selected and sent beyond the Eastern Wall, and the same number died.
That was called the Silverwind Forge.
Now that Dragon Spawn do not increase, that ancient method could no longer be carried out.
Because Dragon Spawn can only be created by dragons.
—Chief Goz is like a father to us now, is he not?—
—That is right.—
—If Chief Goz cannot create Dragon Spawn, does that not mean he has not completely absorbed Silverwind-nim’s Essence?—
—…—
—Then, does that not mean he is unqualified as the owner of the Essence, and unqualified to rule us?—
The atmosphere grew cold.
—Well, perhaps.—
Percival, with the staff over his shoulder, sighed and closed the book.
He stood up and asked him.
—Then, can you beat him?—
—Huh?—
—Can you beat Chief Goz with your strength?—
—How could I beat the Captain?—
Thwack!
Percival’s staff struck the man’s face.
At a speed that gave him no time to react at all.
—Then do not speak lightly. Even if Chief Goz does not become a true dragon, he was once the second-in-command, and for that position he shed enough blood to form a river, and made others shed it. He is not someone your kind can casually dismiss.—
—Ugh, I-I am sorry…—
—There will be no next warning. The moment what you said reaches anywhere, your neck will be in my hands. Understood?—
—I will carve it into my heart.—
Percival looked at the blood-covered fellow and thought.
“I really have become merciful too.”
In the old days, saying something like that was asking for a fight, and it would not have ended until one of the two died.
Since the warrior’s forge of recruiting many and having many die became impossible, whether he liked it or not, mercy was necessary.
“I have to spend all day wasting time with a fellow like this.”
Percival sighed.
Barely had that thought crossed his mind when his sharp senses caught something.
—Captain.—
—Yes, I felt it.—
Signs of life were felt.
However, it came from the east, not from the Far North overrun with Frost Giants.
Judging by the speed of approach, it seemed to be walking toward here.
So it was strange.
If one held such power, flying would be better than walking.
That also meant knowing whose land this was and showing courtesy to that person.
Breaking through the harsh blizzard, that figure finally revealed itself.
—Fall back.—
Percival said that.
—I will provide support…—
—Not even the two of us together can stop her, so I am telling you to stay still.—
The man took his staff and descended from the tower, adopting a battle stance.
The man serving as second-in-command watched his back with a blank stare.
It was the first time he had seen someone who was always carefree and seemed bothered by everything display such tension.
Percival silently welcomed the visitor from below.
Silver hair, silver eyes.
And a weapon of silver steel that only the descendants of Silverwind can possess.
However, in the Silverwind selection process, where only robust men could become descendants, there was no way a girl could exist.
And, above all,
It was impossible for that young woman to emit Dragon Fear that Dragon Spawn cannot produce and come all the way here.
Yet Percival knows.
That exactly one such exceptional existence exists.
—…Ruri.—
—Percival.—
They exchanged light greetings.
The first to ask was Percival.
—What business? Chief Goz stated it clearly last time.—
—…—
—Seeing you in that maid uniform, you do not seem to be thinking of returning to Silverwind’s embrace… if that were the plan, you would not have come emitting killing intent like this.—
—…—
—Do you have business with the Chief again?—
—Yes.—
—What if I block you?—
—…—
She did not speak at length.
Ruri had already made her resolve.
In the silent confrontation, it was Percival who broke the silence.
—Then or now, I cannot think of a way to defeat you. Even when I was determined to kill you, you only thought of subduing me.—
—…—
—If you, who are like that, are determined to see blood… then I should step aside.—
—Thank you, Percival.—
Ruri greeted politely.
That appearance was unusual for someone of the same Silverwind bloodline.
—Even so, allow me to ask one thing. What are you going to do by going to Chief Goz?—
—I am going to ask a favor.—
—What favor? Like last time, proposing that absurd peace again?—
—No.—
—Then…—
Percival felt it instinctively.
With what resolve she had set foot here, emitting Dragon Fear.
—…You could die.—
—I know.—
Goz is ruthless and shows no mercy.
Ruri, who had suffered unilateral violence that no one could bear, felt it in her bones.
—That is why I must go.—
Yet her current powerlessness surpassed that fear.
Ruri passed by Percival’s shoulder and said.
—The person who turned me into a warrior is that one.—